Two men jailed for life for killing their 76-year-old grandfather in 'merciless' attack

DailyMail.co.uk

January 14, 2010

Two men who subjected their 76-year-old grandfather to a 'merciless' attack to satisfy their thirst for violence were jailed for life today.

Paul Peters had suffered two years of abuse at the hands of Wayne Edwards and Anton Sanderson when he was killed in May last year.

A few days before he died Mr Peters had complained to police: 'This could escalate and God knows what could happen to me.'

Edwards and Sanderson assaulted their frail relative with fists, feet, bottles and pieces of furniture.

His body was left half-naked on the kitchen floor of his home in Battersea, south London, Old Bailey jurors heard.

Edward Brown QC, prosecuting, said: 'It seems his killing was for no other reason than to satisfy the need of each of these two defendants for gratuitous violence, to be meted out to an elderly and frail man.'

Edwards, 33, who lived with his grandfather in Battersea and Sanderson, 24, from Lower Edmonton, north London, will have to serve a minimum of 20 years after being convicted of murder.

Lee Beddoe, 34, Edwards's former girlfriend, from Battersea, was acquitted earlier in the trial of assisting an offender.

Judge Martyn Zeidman told the two men: 'You will have many years to reflect on the wickedness of what you have done.

'You have both shown a complete lack of respect or gratitude to others.'

The judge added: 'Throughout history, ordinary people have been moved to do great things to protect their family.

'But you have both murdered your own grandfather, and you have done so in a horrific manner showing him no mercy.'

Mr Peters had lived at his home for 35 years, many of them with his wife who had died seven years earlier, the court heard.

He treated Edwards and Sanderson, who both had convictions for violence, almost as if they were his own sons.

But he was forced to complain numerous times to police and social services about the pair.

In the month before he was killed, the pensioner twice contacted police about rows with Edwards, who had told him: 'I'm going to smash you.'

In April he made a statement saying: 'I do not want Wayne living with me, this could escalate and God knows what could happen to me.'

Sources at Wandsworth Council said social services had 'bent over backwards to try and help' Mr Peters, but he repeatedly turned down the offer of being re-housed and refused to press charges against his tormentors.

Grandsons murdered Battersea pensioner Paul Peters for sake of gratuitous violence

Wandsworth.co.uk

December 1, 2009

A frail pensioner was battered to death by his grandsons just days after he warned police he feared for his life, an Old Bailey jury was told today.

Paul Peters, 76, suffered months of abuse before being murdered by Wayne Edwards, 33, and Anton Sanderson, 24, it is claimed.

He had made a series of complaints to both police and Wandsworth social services about Edwards beating him and threatening to throw him down the stairs.

Four days before his death, Mr Peters, who used a walking stick to get around, made a witness statement saying: “This could escalate and God knows what could happen to me.”

Mr Edwards was arrested but was released the same day because of “weak evidence”, the court was told.

On the evening May 2 this year Mr Peters was hit with fists, feet, bottles and pieces of furniture at his flat in Francis Chichester Way, Battersea, the Old Bailey jury was told.

Prosecutor Edward Brown told the court: “It was not for the purpose of robbery that he was killed, there was no burglary, it was not accidental.

“It seems his killing was for no other reason than to satisfy the need of each of these two defendants for gratuitous violence to be meted out on an elderly and frail man.

“They repaid his hospitality by setting about him in a merciless and prolonged attack that was fuelled by drink and left Paul Peters dead.”

Mr Peters suffered 33 rib fractures and was left half naked on his kitchen floor.

Mr Edwards' girlfriend Lee Beddoe, 34, then helped the two men clean up the murder scene by disposing of evidence, the court was told.

That same night, Mr Edwards and Mr Sanderson wrecked a local restaurant, Noor Tandoori, causing £17,000 of damage in “an act of unprovoked vandalism”, the court heard.

Mr Peters had brought up his grandson Wayne Edwards, who called him “Dad”, and allowed him to stay at the flat.

Mr Edwards was known as a “menace”, playing loud music and spitting on neighbour's windows, the court heard.

Witnesses claim that two years before the murder they heard Mr Peters begging to be let out of a cupboard.

Mr Peters had been allocated a social worker and had made a series of complaints to both her and police about threats and assaults, the court heard.

Four days before his death, on April 28, Mr Peters made a full witness statement and told officers: “I do not want Wayne living with me. This could escalate and God knows what could happen to me.”

However Mr Edwards was released and he was back in Mr Peters’ flat by May 1, despite the locks being changed, the court heard.

Neighbours later heard Mr Edwards telling his grandfather: “I'm the man in the house”, the court was told.

After their arrest for murder Mr Edwards claimed that he was asleep at the time of the killing and Sanderson made no comment, the prosecutor said.

Mr Edwards, of Kennard House, Francis Chichester Way, Battersea; and Mr Sanderson, of Latymer Way, Enfield, north London, both deny murder.

Ms Beddoe, of Elsley Road, Battersea, denies assisting an offender by removing evidence with intent to impede the apprehension of Edwards and Sanderson.