OAP hitman refuses to give evidence in murder trial

Allan Savage, from London Road, who was jailed for life in February for the crime, refused to enter the witness box on Tuesday as the main witness in the case.

Due to his silence, he was held in contempt of court, receiving a further 18 month sentence.

Businessman Robert Ward, who was acquitted of murder at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, described Savage as "a very sad, delusional man."

Mr Ward, of Banstead in Surrey, was cleared of paying Savage 2,000 to shoot Geoffrey Small, who was claimed to be having an affair with Mr Ward's mother.

Mr Small was murdered whilst working in his Sutton newsagents on September 6 1976.

Savage broke in through a ground floor window and shot the victim four times in the back of the head and chest.

Savage was apprehended in September last year, 26 years after the shooting, following an appeal on Crimewatch.

In a statement following his arrest, Savage confessed to the crime, claiming Mr Ward had hired him to carry out the murder.

Mr Ward, a friend of Savage's at the time of the killing, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Savage, who suffers from bladder cancer, refused to take the stand, claiming he was in fear of his life in prison.

Judge Martin Stephens QC discharged the jury after ruling that Savage's statement could not be read in place of evidence.

He said: "Mr Savage has steadfastly refused to give evidence.

The result is that there is now no case to be heard."

The verdict provoked an emotional response from Mr Small's family, with security guards forced to prevent relatives from attacking the defendant.

Judge Stephens QC placed the further 18-month sentence on Savage for causing "'immense trouble, expense and worry" to those involved with the case.