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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man denies killing wealthy writer | Man denies killing wealthy writer |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A financial trader has denied murdering a reclusive author in order to steal his identity and plunder his wealth. | |
| Wang Yam, 46, who is accused of killing Allan Chappelow at his home in Hampstead, north London, broke down as he gave evidence at the Old Bailey. | Wang Yam, 46, who is accused of killing Allan Chappelow at his home in Hampstead, north London, broke down as he gave evidence at the Old Bailey. |
| He also said he had not stolen the 86-year-old millionaire's mail. | He also said he had not stolen the 86-year-old millionaire's mail. |
| Mr Yam who lives in Denning Road, near Mr Chappelow's £2.5m dilapidated home, denies murder, burglary and four dishonesty offences in 2006. | Mr Yam who lives in Denning Road, near Mr Chappelow's £2.5m dilapidated home, denies murder, burglary and four dishonesty offences in 2006. |
| Mr Chappelow, an expert on writer George Bernard Shaw, was found battered to death and hidden under a pile of papers in the house in Downshire Hill in June 2006. | Mr Chappelow, an expert on writer George Bernard Shaw, was found battered to death and hidden under a pile of papers in the house in Downshire Hill in June 2006. |
| Financial difficulties | Financial difficulties |
| Mr Yam cried in court after being asked about his life in China before seeking asylum in Britain in 1992. | Mr Yam cried in court after being asked about his life in China before seeking asylum in Britain in 1992. |
| Shortly after telling the jury that he had set up internet blogs in 2002 and 2004 criticising the Chinese government, the press and public were excluded from court. | Shortly after telling the jury that he had set up internet blogs in 2002 and 2004 criticising the Chinese government, the press and public were excluded from court. |
| The prosecution alleges Mr Yam murdered Mr Chappelow because he got into financial difficulties. | The prosecution alleges Mr Yam murdered Mr Chappelow because he got into financial difficulties. |
| For about a month after the author's body was discovered, a man was stealing his post and using information from it to access bank and credit card accounts. | For about a month after the author's body was discovered, a man was stealing his post and using information from it to access bank and credit card accounts. |
| Mr Yam told the court he was not the Chinese man wearing "Eric Morecambe glasses" who approached a postman near the house. | Mr Yam told the court he was not the Chinese man wearing "Eric Morecambe glasses" who approached a postman near the house. |
| Pro-democracy movement | Pro-democracy movement |
| When asked if he had been disturbed by Mr Chappelow whilst taking his post Mr Yam said: "It is not true." | When asked if he had been disturbed by Mr Chappelow whilst taking his post Mr Yam said: "It is not true." |
| The defendant said he had a masters degree in theoretical physics and was an associate professor in Beijing. | The defendant said he had a masters degree in theoretical physics and was an associate professor in Beijing. |
| Recounting his activities in the pro-democracy movement in China he said said he left for Hong Kong after being pressed to betray friends and teachers involved in demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. | Recounting his activities in the pro-democracy movement in China he said said he left for Hong Kong after being pressed to betray friends and teachers involved in demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. |
| He later became a freelance broker and mortgage adviser but became bankrupt owing more than £100,000 in 2005. | He later became a freelance broker and mortgage adviser but became bankrupt owing more than £100,000 in 2005. |
| Mr Chappelow wrote a number of works about Bernard Shaw and was also the author of Russian Holiday - an account, published in 1955, of his experiences in the Soviet Union after he became one of the first Britons to be allowed to travel there. | Mr Chappelow wrote a number of works about Bernard Shaw and was also the author of Russian Holiday - an account, published in 1955, of his experiences in the Soviet Union after he became one of the first Britons to be allowed to travel there. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |