Wolverhampton burglar claims he attacked frail pensioner 'in a blind panic in the dark' and 'just wanted to escape'
The burglar accused of murdering a 94-year-old pensioner told a jury he 'did not go over the top' when battering his frail victim.
Paul Topham is standing trial for the murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court of Harold Monk, during a botched burglary when he attacked his victim leaving him with 18 fractured ribs and brain damage.
Giving evidence from the stand, which he began on Friday afternoon, in his defence today (July 21), the 45-year-old told the jury he acted in "blind panic" when disturbed in the dark by Mr Monk.
Wearing a white shirt and dark tie, he said: "It was dark and I saw somebody come towards me, I straddled him to ensure I was not on the bottom.
"I hit him for about 20 seconds and just wanted to get out of there. I did not stamp on him or kick him, my trainers were sent for forensic examination and nothing came back. I did not think I went over the top. I did not want to kill him. I just wanted to escape."
