Man, 79, died after brick attack

All three defendants admitted conspiracy to damage property

A pensioner's fatal heart attack was "highly likely" to have been caused by a brick being thrown through his window, a court has heard.

Bernard Gilbert, 79, died 35 minutes after the incident at his home in Spondon, Derby, on 28 January 2007.

The prosecution claims the attack was in response to a row over parking.

Zoe Forbes, 26, her husband Mark, 40, both of Ripley, and his brother Steven, 22, from South Normanton, all deny manslaughter at Nottingham Crown Court.

The three defendants have admitted conspiracy to damage property.

Bernard Gilbert died in hospital after the brick attack on his home

The court heard Mr Gilbert had health problems including diabetes and high blood pressure and had a limited life expectancy.

Dr Michael Miller Craig, from the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, told the court it was possible that he could have suffered an unrelated sudden heart attack, but it was a one in 1,000 chance.

He said it was "highly likely" that it was caused by the stress after the brick attack, which he added was of "extreme relevance".

The court heard earlier that Mr Gilbert had been verbally abusive to Mrs Forbes during a row over a parking space in Asda four days earlier, and Mark Forbes then plotted a revenge attack.

He traced Mr Gilbert's address through a then-serving police officer, the jury heard.

The case continues.