Man ‘smashed’ uncle's head into wall, court hears

Terry Ricketts died at his home in February, the trial heard

A man killed his uncle by “smashing” his head twice into his own living room wall, a court has heard.

Terry Ricketts, 53, died of a brain injury shortly after midnight on 25 February after spending the evening with his wife Sarah and her sister’s son Grant Walker, 32, from Faringdon Road, Swindon.

Mr Walker, who has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, is on trial for murder for the “violent, vicious” attack - a charge he denies.

Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court Walker's guilty plea to manslaughter was "minimising his own culpability".

Mr Jones added that Mr Walker's "intention in these moments was to cause really serious harm" to "ultimately a defenceless man"

Mr Ricketts' widow told Bristol Crown Court that the three had enjoyed a pleasant evening, sharing a few drinks and watching television.

Mr Walker and Mr Ricketts had been "fine with each other" as "they always have been", that evening, she said during a police interview shown in court.

Mr Ricketts' family previously described him as a "devoted husband" and "best dad and grandad"

But things changed quickly shortly after midnight, when Mr Ricketts briefly left the room to use the toilet.

Upon his return, the prosecution said, he approached Mr Walker from behind and put his arm around his shoulder.

Mr Walker is alleged to have then gripped Mr Ricketts in a headlock, and they both fell back onto the sofa in what first appeared to be "playfighting".

He then allegedly dragged his uncle across the room and "smashed" his head at least twice against a wall, before leaving him collapsed on the floor.

Ms Ricketts told the court how when she had tried to call an ambulance, Mr Walker had tried to tell her he had simply "put her husband to sleep for 10 minutes".

He then, she said, picked Mr Ricketts up by his shirt and "belted" him across the face to try and wake him up.

'I just killed Terry'

Mr Walker then left the flat and spent the next seven hours before his arrest frantically calling and texting family and friends.

In many of the messages he admitted to what he had done, telling one friend he had "smashed his head twice, he looks dead," and texting his mother: "I just killed Terry, please help me."

In further texts he said he "loved him" and that he was "one of the golden people" in his life, but in another message he said his uncle "deserved it" and it was "karma".

Mr Ricketts was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at around 01:15 GMT, with injuries consistent with a catastrophic brain injury, the court heard.

Police made contact with Mr Walker by phone during the early hours of the morning and arranged to meet him shortly before 08.00 in Swindon's Cavendish Square, where he was arrested.

The trial continues.