A jury will resume deliberations this morning in the trial of a man accused of murdering a vulnerable grandfather at his Chatham home.

The six men and six women were sent out to consider a verdict just before lunch on Friday.

Paul Campbell, known as Noodles, was arrested after his palm and fingerprints were found on an oven close to victim Steve Berry’s body.

He died from a combination of haemorrhage and head injury from “multiple blunt impacts” and penetrating knife injuries to his head and face.

He had severe head injuries including a fractured skull and brain damage. There were stab wounds to the upper chest and defensive injuries to both hands.

The pathologist concluded that food tins, a Stanley knife or the broken handle of a milk pan could have been used as weapons.

Campbell, 30, of Farley Close, Chatham, denied murder, claiming he had never been to the 59-year-old alcoholic’s ground floor flat. He did not give evidence.

The jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard that despite Mr Berry’s unkempt appearance and untidy flat he was “reasonably wealthy” and preyed upon for that reason.

Richard Jory, prosecuting, said Mr Berry had been living alone in Kinross Close, Princes Park, for about 18 months before the killing between July 10 and 12 last year.

Neighbour Graham Fitzgerald alerted the emergency services on Sunday July 12.

Mr Berry, who was in poor health, had not been seen for two days and Mr Fitzgerald became concerned about the unpleasant smell coming from the flat.

There were no witnesses to what had taken place and the initial suspicion fell on Mr Fitzgerald, who was arrested and held in custody.