Heroin pair deny robbing dead man

Jacques Manlow, an 82-year-old Royal Navy veteran, died a week after being pushed to the ground in Parkhurst Road.

Raymond Atkins and Philip Howell both deny the charges.

Howell, 28, told the jury 33-year-old Atkins had grabbed the pensioner's wallet out of his hand as they returned from buying the class A drug, last June

The younger defendant claimed he had handed the wallet back to Mr Manlow then tried to help him up, before fleeing the scene in panic when a passer-by stopped to help.

But Atkins told Lewes Crown Court he could not recall the attack because he was an alcoholic and drug addict at the time of the fatal robbery and this had affected his memory.

A jury has heard how Mr Manlow was walking along Parkhurst Road when he was set upon by two men.

It was alleged the two men pushed the pensioner to the ground, fracturing his hip, then snatched his wallet - before handing it back and telling him "We don't want it".

The retired hairdresser, who lived in Osbern Close, Cooden, seemed to be recovering but suffered a heart attack and died in hospital on June 24.

Atkins, of Albert Road, and Howell, of Rotherfield Avenue, deny both robbery and manslaughter. Atkins told the jury he had a 70 a day heroin habit and was drinking about 15 cans of strong lager along with other alcohol at the time of the attack.

He also claimed to have a long history of mental health problems and had recently been prescribed anti-psychotic medication, anti-depressants and other prescribed drugs.

Asked about the attack, he simply replied: "I don't remember that day."

Cross-examined by Stephen Shay for the prosecution over whether he could have robbed Mr Manlow but could not remember, Atkins replied: "No. I would not do it."

Psychiatrist Dr Duncan Angus told the jury Atkins had a troubled upbringing and had begun suffering alcohol blackouts and amnesia when he was just a teenager.

Asked whether Atkins might not have known he was carrying out the robbery due to the amount of drink and drugs he was on, Dr Angus replied: "I don't know because he's unable to tell me.

"But the quantity of drugs would certainly be more than sufficient to cause all sorts of disturbances in his mental state."

Howell told the jury he had worked as a labourer for years before suffering a nervous breakdown and spending time in a hospital where he met Atkins.

He claimed on the day of the attack he had been paid 70 in benefit which he and Atkins had used 20 of to buy heroin before starting the short walk back to Atkins' flat.

Howell said: "We were crossing the road, I was a little bit in front of Ray.

"As I was crossing the road I passed a man with a wallet out in Parkhurst Road. Ray had his arm round the old gentleman and I heard a scuffle.

"I saw Ray snatch the wallet and I grabbed the wallet off Ray. I saw the old man sitting on the floor facing the other way.

"I put the wallet in his lap and tried to help him up. It happened so quick. The woman came over to help. She asked me to phone the ambulance but I didn't have my phone on me. Ray had already run.

"He shouted my name to hurry up and I just ran, I panicked."

Asked why he had lied to police by claiming Atkins had tripped and accidentally knocked Mr Manlow over, Howell replied: "I was scared as I'd been buying Class A drugs and knew I'd be in trouble.

"I lied about going to the off-licence because I was trying to cover for Ray. I was just panicking, I didn't know what to do.

"I didn't want to be known as a grass. It all got out of hand and now it's ended up like this."

The trial continues.