A pensioner has died after being tied to a chair by a thief who returned to the crime scene more than a week later to free his victim’s body, according to a murder trial.
Prosecutors say Addris Mohammed has returned to David Warlow’s home, knowing the pensioner will be dead to look for other items to steal.
At the Birmingham Crown Court trial, it was said that Warlow, 78, had been found dead after police forced him into his home in Manor Lane, Halesowen, West Midlands, last November.
Mohammed of Iknild Port Road, Birmingham, denies murder, manslaughter, attempted burglary and two charges of fraud and burglary.
Opening the crown case on Monday, prosecutor Peter Greaves-Smith claimed that 44-year-old Mohammed went to Varlow’s home on October 24, November 3 and on the night of November 11-12.
The prosecutor told the court that Mohammed tried to break into the property on his first visit and returned to the house on November 3 in the early hours of the morning.
Greaves-Smith said, “That’s why he came into the house. He stole a bank card that he and others used to defraud.
Claiming that Mohammed was trying to withdraw as much money as possible with the help of the card, Greaves-Smith told the jury: “The plan will only work if David Varlow cannot notify the police or the bank. He tied David Warlow to a chair in his living room in such a way that he would never be able to break free.
“It would be obvious that David Varlow is old and frail, but he didn’t care. By tying him up, Adris Mohammed either intended to kill him or cause him serious harm.
Jurors were told that Varlow’s bank account contained almost £ 19,000.
The court heard that Varlow scored 999 after the initial attempted burglary, which broke the rear window.
The court heard that during the burglary in which he was tied, Varlow was “forced” to reveal the pin on his card.
Greaves-Smith told Mohammed: “The first thing he did with the bank card was check the balance.
“There was more than £ 19,000 in that bank account. After checking how much money he had, he withdrew £ 250 in cash.
“In order to do that, he must have known the needle, and David Warlow, according to the indictment, must have been forced to reveal it. He did not do it of his own free will. He must have been terrible. “
In his introductory remarks, Greaves-Smith claimed that Mohammed was accompanied by defendant O’Shay Swan, who was charged with burglary and fraud when he returned to Manor Lane late on November 11 or early on November 12.
The prosecutor continued: “The prosecution suggests that Addris Mohammed would feel confident that when he returns, David Varlow will not be able to recognize him because he will be dead.
“If he thought there was a chance David Varlow was alive, he would never come back.
Claiming that Mohammed untied the victim during the last visit, allowing the body to fall to the floor, Greaves-Smith added that the victim was found a few days later when police stormed in.
Swins, 42, of Winson Green Road, Birmingham, denies robbing Varlow’s property on Nov. 10-13 and committing bank card fraud on Nov. 12.
The process, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.
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