A man accused of murdering his neighbour told an emergency call handler the victim was “dead as anything” in a frantic 999 call, a jury heard.

Thomas Ellison, 35, denies the murder of neighbour 58-year-old Ian Jupe in his home at Heather Court in Harefield on May 28.

He is accused of strangling him to death before stealing his card to pay off a £40 debt.

The recording of the 999 call made by Jupe’s niece Michelle was played to Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday.

The call was made around 3-4 hours after Jupe is believed to have been killed, when Michelle went to check on him as he hadn't returned her calls, the court heard.

In the recording, the female call handler immediately asked if the patient is breathing, to which the victim's niece tearfully replied: “No, he’s dead. Oh my god.”

During the phone call, Michelle continues to tell the woman Jupe “is gone” and “he is not going to come back”, adding that rigor mortis had set in.

The court also heard a male’s voice in the background, piping up to say he “last saw Jupe at 8am that morning”.

In court, Michelle confirmed this was the defendant, Thomas Ellison, who had appeared after she arrived.

READ MORE: Man strangled 'vulnerable' neighbour to steal cash for £40 debt, murder trial told

He next spoke when the call handler suggested moving Jupe to do CPR.

Ellison, of Heather Court, said in the call: “Excuse me madam, but he is cold and he is dead, why would we do that?

“He is dead as anything.”

Giving evidence, Michelle said she told Ellison to leave at that point after he walked into Jupe’s flat mere moments after she discovered her uncle’s body.

In her video interview with the police, shown to court, Michelle said: “Ellison just walked straight in and then out of the flat, before he came back again.

“He came out of nowhere.”

She explained how she drove to visit her uncle as he had not returned her calls, which she said was unusual.

Michelle said: “Ian was lying in his bed, but something didn’t look right.

“Ellison later told me Ian said to him that morning he did not feel well and was going to bed.

“But I expected creases in his bed to show movement. It looked like the bed had been ironed, and he was simply lying there.”

She added that after Jupe’s death, Ellison admitted he “had moved the body” but was not responsible for his death.

The trial continues.