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| James Allen 'brutally attacked and ransacked' pair during robbery | James Allen 'brutally attacked and ransacked' pair during robbery |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man accused of two murders brutally attacked his victims in their homes before robbing them, a court has heard. | A man accused of two murders brutally attacked his victims in their homes before robbing them, a court has heard. |
| James Allen, 36, denies killing Colin Dunford, 81, of Middlesbrough, and Julie Davison, 50, of Whitby, in April. | James Allen, 36, denies killing Colin Dunford, 81, of Middlesbrough, and Julie Davison, 50, of Whitby, in April. |
| The court was told the motivation for both killings was robbery and the person responsible "intended nothing less than their deaths". | The court was told the motivation for both killings was robbery and the person responsible "intended nothing less than their deaths". |
| The trial at Newcastle Crown Court is expected to last three weeks. | The trial at Newcastle Crown Court is expected to last three weeks. |
| Mr Dunford and Ms Davison were both found with head injuries at their homes days apart in April. | Mr Dunford and Ms Davison were both found with head injuries at their homes days apart in April. |
| Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, told jurors that in each case after Mr Allen had murdered his victim, he left the home and locked the door behind him. | Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, told jurors that in each case after Mr Allen had murdered his victim, he left the home and locked the door behind him. |
| 'Physically vulnerable' | 'Physically vulnerable' |
| The court also heard how Mr Allen had 96p in his bank account at the time and was in debt to money lenders. | The court also heard how Mr Allen had 96p in his bank account at the time and was in debt to money lenders. |
| After ransacking Mr Dunford's home, his bank card and mobile phone were stolen. Mr Allen then tried to withdraw £200 from Mr Dunford's account, the court heard. | After ransacking Mr Dunford's home, his bank card and mobile phone were stolen. Mr Allen then tried to withdraw £200 from Mr Dunford's account, the court heard. |
| The jury was played CCTV that showed the accused walking to the cash point. | The jury was played CCTV that showed the accused walking to the cash point. |
| Three days later Julie Davison, who lived alone, was also beaten to death in her home 30 miles away in Whitby, north Yorkshire. | |
| She had been stamped on, kicked and stabbed 31 times. The jury was told Mr Allen cycled there using a stolen bicycle. | |
| A laptop, cash and jewellery were taken from her house. The court was told that a cigarette butt containing the defendant's DNA was found close to her home. | |
| Ms Davison was described in court as "physically vulnerable" as she had a degenerative condition and epilepsy. | Ms Davison was described in court as "physically vulnerable" as she had a degenerative condition and epilepsy. |