Grandmother, 85, who left patio doors open was 'battered to death with hammer by man who wanted to kill whoever was inside'

A man battered an 85-year-old grandmother to death with a lump hammer- because her patio doors were open, a court heard today. Jamie Boult, 25, entered the ground floor waterside flat of Delia Hughes in Southampton, Hampshire, and planned to 'kill whoever was in there', it is alleged. He rained down eight blows on the pensioner’s head from behind, knocking her to the ground with the heavy and bloodied weapon. She was left with a broken skull and severely damaged brain. Boult had hidden behind her bedroom door after tripping on the patio blinds, and pounced when the frail widow went to investigate the noise. Prosecutor William Mousley QC told Winchester Crown Court that Boult 'brought the hammer down hard from above his head, saying nothing'.

He added: 'After he had hit her once and she had fallen, he hit her again on the top/front of her head. She did not try to defend herself. 'He was trying to kill her.' Boult waited a few seconds to see if anybody else arrived, before ransacking the bedroom, it is claimed. He went through Mrs Hughes jewellery box, which was left upturned on her bed, and took bracelets and necklaces. They were later recovered from the home he shared with his mother. Boult even went into the kitchen of Mrs Hughes’ home during the attack, where he took a carton of orange juice to drink.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2348361/Grandmother-85-left-patio-doors-open-battered-death-hammer-man-wanted-kill-inside.html