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Arthur Gumbley: Murder trial told how brutal beating led to 87-year-old's death

An 87-year-old burglary victim died in hospital after his right hand was "skinned" by intruders who also broke his ribs and punched him in the face, a murder trial heard.

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Arthur Gumbley died three weeks after being attacked in his own home

Arthur Gumbley was disturbed while he watched television in his living room in the early evening by the sound of his kitchen door being smashed.

He made his way to the hallway using his walking stick to investigate, where he found two men.

“He asked them in a friendly way what they wanted – the response was immediate violence,” said Mr Jacob Hallam, QC, prosecuting.

Mr Gumbley died three weeks after the attack in Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, in November 2017.

Jason Wayne Wilsher, who was 19 at the time of the attack, is now on trial for murder, accused of being one of the men who attacked the victim at his property.

Punched and kicked

Mr Gumbley was punched in the face, knocked to the floor and kicked whilst on the ground.

As he lay there, his watch was ripped from his wrist, taking the skin off, Stafford Crown Court heard.

Mr Gumbley was aged 87 when he died

Mr Hallam said it was plain from the abrasions on the victim’s back and hands that he had been dragged back into the living room.

As well as severe bruising to his head and arms, Mr Gumbley had also suffered four broken ribs in the assault.

Mr Hallam said: “He cannot tell what else was done to him, but his body tells its own story tragically.”

Ransacked

His attackers then ransacked the house in Endwood Drive, stealing jewellery belonging to his dead wife and other sentimental items before pulling out the telephone cord and fleeing the property, leaving him bleeding.

Mr Gumbley managed to plug the phone line back in, and when his daughter rang to check on him as usual at around 9pm, four hours after the attack, she was horrified to learn of her father’s ordeal.

Mr Gumbley's injuries can be seen in hospital before his death

She and her husband rushed from their home nearby to his side and he was taken reluctantly to hospital. The court heard he had not wanted to leave his home.

Death

Despite the efforts of medical staff, Mr Gumbley’s condition deteriorated and he died three weeks later, on December 12.

Mr Hallam said: “There is no dispute but that his death was caused by his attackers.

“They meant to cause him really serious harm – their victim was utterly defenceless and utterly overpowered – so they could carry out their plan and take his property from him, and their plan worked.”

Police say that DNA evidence at the scene and telephone analysis, which links Wilshire to his address at the time and the purchase of a blue Mazda car used on the night of the attack, incriminate him.

Wilsher, now 20, of Barlestone Road in Bagworth, denies murder and conspiracy to rob between November 18-26.

The trial continues.

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