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| Author was 'murdered for wealth' | Author was 'murdered for wealth' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A reclusive millionaire author was murdered by a man who stole his identity in order to plunder his wealth, the Old Bailey has heard. | A reclusive millionaire author was murdered by a man who stole his identity in order to plunder his wealth, the Old Bailey has heard. |
| Allan Chappelow, 86, was found beaten to death at his home in Downshire Hill, Hampstead, north-west London, in 2006. | Allan Chappelow, 86, was found beaten to death at his home in Downshire Hill, Hampstead, north-west London, in 2006. |
| His body was hidden for about a month as a man stole his post in order to access his finances, jurors heard. | His body was hidden for about a month as a man stole his post in order to access his finances, jurors heard. |
| Wang Yam, 46, of Hampstead, denies murder, burglary and four dishonesty offences. | Wang Yam, 46, of Hampstead, denies murder, burglary and four dishonesty offences. |
| Private hearing | |
| The charges include obtaining a money transfer of £20,000 by pretending to be the writer and taking four cheques and mail from the house. | The charges include obtaining a money transfer of £20,000 by pretending to be the writer and taking four cheques and mail from the house. |
| The court heard Mr Chappelow's body was found under a pile of papers in a room at the dilapidated house, which is thought to be valued at £2.5m. | |
| Prosecutor Mark Ellison said the killer and thief was Mr Yam. | Prosecutor Mark Ellison said the killer and thief was Mr Yam. |
| He was described by a neighbour as quite eccentric Prosecutor Mark Ellison | |
| Mr Ellison said: "The murder of Allan Chappelow and the concealment of his body was not unconnected to the access and manipulation of his accounts." | Mr Ellison said: "The murder of Allan Chappelow and the concealment of his body was not unconnected to the access and manipulation of his accounts." |
| Before the case started jurors were told that part of the case would be heard "in camera" when the press and public would be excluded. | |
| Mr Justice Ouseley said they would be told exactly why on Monday and they were warned against speculating. | |
| "I am not going to explain why this is so at the moment. It will become apparent to you when it arises," he said. | |
| The court heard how the victim had been a successful author, particularly in the 1960s when he wrote two biographies of George Barnard Shaw. | |
| At the time of his death he lived alone in a large detached house with rubbish piled up on the inside and out. | |
| Mr Ellison said: "He was not only elderly but reclusive. He was described by a neighbour as quite eccentric. | |
| "The garden was heavily overgrown and often he did not go to the door when callers came to it." | |
| But despite being forgetful, Mr Cappelow "was regarded by those who knew him as highly intelligent and able to operate his affairs", he said. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |