OAP 'woke neighbour to confess killing girlfriend'

A pensioner woke his neighbour up in the middle of the night to confess to killing his girlfriend, the Old Bailey heard today.

Phillip Bailey, 78, was covered in blood and said: "I am from next door. I have killed the lady next door", jurors were told.

Tina Crawford, 45, was found in the blood-spattered kitchen of her terraced home in Barry Road, East Dulwich, south London, in March last year.

Miss Crawford had been battered to death and had 81 injuries to her head and body, said Anthony Orchard, prosecuting.

A piece of wood covered in blood was found on the floor and two chairs were found across the body.

Mr Orchard said: "Her head, face and body were covered in blood, her face was heavily bruised. She had been severely beaten."

Heavy drinker Bailey allegedly told police he struck Miss Crawford during a row over a broken table, Mr Orchard added.

He said Miss Crawford had made three attempts to ring 999 from a mobile phone but they had not connected.

Bailey, of Vauxhall, south London, denies murder.

The trial was adjourned to tomorrow.