Man died of 'accidental' blunt force trauma

Terry Ricketts died of blunt force trauma, the court heard

A man who killed his uncle by smashing his head into his own living room wall told a jury his death was an accident.

Grant Walker, 32, from Faringdon Road in Swindon, appeared today at Bristol Crown Court, charged with the murder of his uncle, Terry Ricketts, on 25 February.

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Ricketts, 53, died of blunt force trauma which resulted in a fatal brain injury.

Mr Walker, who had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, maintained this was accidental and that he “did not mean to hurt him".

On the evening of the 25 February, the pair had been socialising at Mr Ricketts’ home in Westbourne Court, Rodbourne, joined by Mr Ricketts’ wife, Sarah.

Mr Ricketts' widow told the court they had enjoyed a pleasant evening but the mood changed shortly after midnight, when Mr Ricketts left the room briefly to use the toilet.

'Automatic reaction'

His defence attorney, KC Adam Vaitilingam said upon his return, Mr Walker was “grabbed from behind without warning” by his uncle, to which his “automatic reaction” was to put him in a headlock and “throw him forward against the wall”.

According to prosecutor Simon Jones, Mr Walker then allegedly dragged Mr Ricketts across the room and "smashed" his head at least twice against a wall, before leaving him collapsed on the floor.

Mr Walker then left the premises, allegedly fearing an argument would ensue once his uncle “came to”.

He proceeded to make a series of phone calls and text messages to his friends and family, seemingly panicking over what he had done and fearing his uncle was dead.

In one text, he said his uncle "deserved it" and it was "karma".

According to the defence, this was unrelated to the crime and referred to the fact that Mr Ricketts sometimes became violent when he drank - although he added that his uncle had never been violent with Mr Walker.

A post mortem examination revealed bruising and abrasions to the left side of Mr Ricketts’ face, and an underlying skull fracture 11cm long.

The coroner ruled this injury was caused by “forceful impact against a hard surface” at least twice.

The cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma and a serious injury to the brain stem, exacerbated through the consumption of alcohol.

'Out of character'

Mr Walker told police after handing himself in: “I didn’t mean to kill him, I didn’t want to hurt him. You don’t understand how much I love that man.”

His defence attorney, KC Adam Vaitilingam said for him to have caused serious injury to someone with intent would have been “entirely out of character”.

Mr Vaitilingam said: “No one could possibly be sure Grant Walker intended to hurt his uncle, whom he loved and had been cared for by.”

His Honour Judge Lambert addressed the jury to say: “He accepts he killed Terry and that involved unlawful violence by him, but insists he did not mean to hurt him.”

In a statement read out to the court by the judge, Mr Walker said: “I am deeply sorry for the consequences of my actions.”

The jury has retired to consider its verdict.