Man, 76, 'murdered by grandsons'

Two half-brothers beat their 76-year-old grandfather to death in an act of "gratuitous violence", jurors at the Old Bailey have been told.

Wayne Edwards, 33, and Anton Sanderson, 24, attacked Paul Peters with fists, feet, bottles and pieces of furniture.

The "merciless and prolonged attack" took place at Mr Peters' home in Battersea, south London, in May.

Mr Edwards, of Battersea, and Mr Sanderson, of Lower Edmonton, north London, both deny murder.

Jurors were told how Mr Peters was left half naked on the kitchen floor after the drink-fuelled assault.

The attack left the former tailor and dressmaker with his ribs broken in 33 places.

The court heard that Mr Peters had complained to police and social services about threats and assaults by Mr Edwards, who lived with him at the flat.

A few days before he died, he said: "I do not want Wayne living with me, this could escalate and God knows what could happen to me."

Mr Sanderson, who would also sometimes stay at his grandfather's flat, was previously said to have threatened to throw him down the stairs.

Edward Brown QC, prosecuting, said: "It seems his killing was for no other reason than to satisfy the need of each of these two defendants for gratuitous violence, to be meted out to an elderly and frail man.

"They repaid his hospitality by setting about him in a merciless and prolonged attack that was fuelled by drink."

Mr Edwards's ex-girlfriend, Lee Beddoe, 34, is alleged to have helped try to clean up the