A canine proprietor’s decomposing physique was found in his home shortly after a housebreaking suspect advised police he was requested to interrupt in and take his labradoodle for a walk, a courtroom heard.
Donald Patience, 45, was discovered beneath a quilt cowl by officers who responded to studies of a housebreaking at his finish terrace home in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on the morning of August 22 final yr.
Ian Connell, 39, is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of murdering Mr Patience by strangling him on the deal with at a while from August 19 onwards.
The courtroom beforehand heard a postman referred to as 999 when he noticed a male determine climbing by means of a rear window of the property in Ainsworth Road and heard a noise like somebody attempting to power entry.
The identical male later emerged from the again backyard with a “medium-sized, fluffy” white canine on a lead, jurors had been advised.
Connell was nonetheless on the scene with the labradoodle when police arrived to research.
When officers approached he gave his identify, date of beginning and stated he was of no fastened abode.
In a press release learn to the courtroom, Pc Alex Lythgoe stated: “I asked who did the dog belong to and he said it was his mate Donald’s, who he worked for.
“He said Donald had multiple properties but was currently in Scotland and he had spoken to Donald on the phone and was asked to enter the house and get his dog out.”
Connell went on to elucidate to the officer that he had a key to the property however it snapped within the door lock, jurors heard.
Pc Lythgoe stated: “He said he phoned Donald back who told him to break in and claimed he was taking the dog for a walk when we stopped him.”
The defendant was discovered to be in possession of a pockets containing Mr Patience’s driving licence and library card, in addition to 4 latex gloves.
Connell was taken into custody on suspicion of housebreaking earlier than different officers performed a radical search of the “unkempt” property and located Mr Patience’s hid physique on the backside of his staircase.
Opening the prosecution case on Tuesday, Michael Hayton KC advised jurors that Mr Patience was an “educated man” who had roots in Scotland.
Mr Patience, extra generally recognized by his center identify Prentice, had access to household money from property, stated the prosecutor.
He stated “Mr Patience’s access to money and also perhaps his good nature led to others taking advantage of him, abusing his generosity and using his access to funds.
“The Crown say one such person who sought to take advantage in this way was Ian Connell, and money was central to many of the communications between the two men in the lead-up to Mr Patience’s death.
“The only possible explanation for Mr Patience’s death is that pressure was applied to his neck until he was dead. He was strangled to death.
“The most likely explanation is that it followed an argument of some sort about money.”
Mr Patience was pronounced useless on the scene by a paramedic shortly after noon as police later took his labradoodle to a neighborhood animal sanctuary.
Connell, of Duke Street, Bolton, denies the homicide of Mr Patience who he later advised detectives he cherished “like a brother”.
He has additionally pleaded not responsible to an alternate depend of manslaughter.
