JURORS hearing the case of a man accused of battering a Hampshire grandmother to death have today begun deliberating their verdict.

The 11 members of the jury retired this afternoon following a day-and-a-half of summing up by Judge Sir David Clarke.

Matthew Hamlen is alleged to have used a marble rolling pin to deliver the fatal blows to 77-year-old Georgina Edmonds in the kitchen of her home in Kiln Lane, Brambridge, on January 11, 2008.

Prosecutors also claim he repeatedly knifed the grandmother of two as a form of torture to extract her cashcard PIN to steal money.

Hamlen, 33, of Hamilton Road, Bishopstoke, denies murder.

Proceeding.