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Grandparent killed for mobile phone?

23/ 4/2008

A 62-YEAR-OLD granddad was brutally beaten to death after two men went on a rampage through Oldham town centre.

A jury heard that James Smith was attacked with such ferocity he suffered fractures to the skull, cheek, jaw and larynx before being left to die in a back alley where his body lay undiscovered for 17 days.

Mr Smith was described as the final victim of 21-year-old Keith Buckley and 24-year-old Adrian Hutchinson, who robbed five people in less than 90 minutes in one night in February last year.

Prosecuting, Charles Chruszcs QC said: "They wished to steal whatever their victims had of value, including wallets, credit cards and mobile phones – they were perfectly prepared to use significant violence in order to achieve that end."

Mr Chruszs told the jury at Manchester Crown Court that the attacks were carried out with escalating violence and ended with the robbery and murder of Mr Smith. He told how Mr Smith’s mobile was later sold by one of the men for just £20.

Buckley, of Goodwin Court, Chadderton, and Hutchinson, of Byland Avenue, Oldham, have pleaded guilty to the five robberies but deny murder. Hutchinson had admitted to the manslaughter of Mr Smith but his plea was not accepted by the Crown.

Mr Chruszcs said the pair had been drinking before meeting up in Oldham and deciding to carry out the robberies. The first victim was a Polish national, who was forced to hand over £40 and his phone; the second was a 19-year-old, who was threatened with a knife before being robbed of £5.

Within minutes the pair then struck twice more. The first of these was captured on CCTV when they attacked a 21-year-old man. A knife was held to his throat and he was forced to reveal his pin number and £250 was withdrawn from his account.

An 18-year-old man was also threatened with a knife before being robbed of his phone and wallet, while a girl who was with him was kicked in the legs.

Mr Smith was next to be targeted as he walked home from a night out drinking. The initial police investigation involved just the first four robberies until the discovery of Mr Smith’s body two and half weeks later.

Mr Smith lived with his son and his son’s partner and the family made desperate pleas as to his whereabouts. When he was eventually found in an alley off Union Street in Oldham town centre, his wallet, some change, keys and bank cards were scattered around the scene and his mobile phone was missing.

The trial continues.