THE jury in the Landford murder trial at Winchester Crown Court has been sent out to consider its verdict.

Summing up, Judge John Royce, asked jury members to consider verdicts of murder or manslaughter in the case of Joby Barney, 25, and 19-year-old John James.

Barney, of Ringwood Road, Alderholt, and James, of London Road, Salisbury, both deny murdering 75-year-old Reginald Baker at his Beech Grange home on September 5.

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The pensioner had been beaten to death; his injuries including a broken neck and back, cuts to his face and hand and 62 fractures to his ribs.

Barney and James have admitted conspiracy to burgle but each has blamed the other for the injuries suffered by Mr Baker.

Mr Justice Royce asked the jury to carefully consider the evidence in deciding whether they acted together or separately.

He said: "If you conclude that anyone leaving Mr Baker’s bungalow must have known he was seriously injured then you may consider the activity of Barney and James - if one was horrified by the activity of the other or if their subsequent activity was indicative that they acted together in pursuit of a common goal."

John Wayne Wilkinson, 40, of Ford Lane, Ferndown, denies conspiracy to burgle on September 5 and a previous burglary on July 30.

Two other men, Daniel Coker, 23, of London Road, and 19-year-old Trevor Gray, of The Friary, Salisbury, have both admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to burgle. They have been remanded in custody to be sentenced at a later date.

The trial of the three other defendants continues.