Murdered man suffered blow to back of head, court told

Neil Parkinson suffered a traumatic brain injury which the prosecution say was likely inflicted as he opened or closed a gate at Giltedge Farm, Broadwas where his partner Juliet Adcock lived.

Mark Chilman, 52, denies the murder of the 66-year-old of Clifton-upon-Teme on December 12 last year after his body was found in a lay-by in Ankerdine Road, Cotheridge on December 12 last year.

The court heard that Chilman, 52, Old Post Office, Pencombe, Bromyard had been in a relationship with Juliet Adcock but that she had kicked him out of the farm and that she had formed a new relationship with Mr Parkinson.

A post-mortem was carried out on Mr Parkinson’s body at University Hospital in Coventry on December 14 last year. “As you would expect, the body was very significantly burnt” said Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting.

He told the jury that heat in itself could result in bleeding and fracturing of the bones.

However, a depressed fracture to the base of Mr Parkinson’s skull was ‘not the result of heat damage’ but of a high pressure impact, he said. Medical evidence suggested it was ‘not unreasonable to suggest unconsciousness would have followed’ that blow. Mr Parkinson’s brain, examined by a neuropathologist, showed evidence of a recent subdural haematoma. “Bleeding within the body of the brain is consistent with the infliction of a severe and significant degree of traumatic brain injury” said the prosecutor.

The prosecution say that a combination of the head injury and the fire 'played a substantive role in Mr Parkinson's death'.

Blood was found on a gatepost at Giltedge farm. DNA matched it to Mr Parkinson. A jerry can was found in the front passenger footwell of the burnt out BMW. A small jerry can was found behind the driver's seat. The melted remains of a green plastic fuel can was found in the boot which Mr Parkinson was known to carry because the fuel gauge in his car was not 'terribly reliable'.

The trial continues.