Jury goes out in author killing

Alan Chappelow's body was found at his Hampstead home

An Old Bailey jury has gone out to consider its verdicts in the trial of a financial adviser accused of murdering 86-year-old author Allan Chappelow.

The author was found dead with severe head injuries, hidden under a pile of papers and manuscripts, at his home in Hampstead, north London, in May 2006.

Wang Yam, 46, of Denning Road, Hampstead, has been accused of his murder. Mr Yam denies the charge.

The Chinese-born defendant also denies burglary and theft of mail.

Mr Yam has been accused of killing the author in order to steal his identity and plunder his wealth.

He maintains that he did not know the author, who was an expert on playwright George Bernard Shaw, and had never been to his home.

Mr Chappelow, who was said to have become eccentric in his old age, lived in a £2.5m period property.