Man 'killed by stick down throat'

A man died when his walking stick was forced down his throat by killers at his Great Yarmouth home, a jury heard.

Alan Bowles's stick was inserted into his body to a depth of 9ins (22cms), jurors at Norwich Crown Court heard.

David Comer, 39, of Broad Row, Great Yarmouth, Paul Slack, 46, and Kathleen Johnson, 57, both of no fixed address, all deny murdering Mr Bowles.

Richard Potts, prosecuting, said Mr Bowles died in his living room in Yarmouth Way in May 2007.

The court heard Mr Bowles was called "the old man" and was bullied by Mr Comer, before he died.

Mr Potts said: "His death was not peaceful and neither was it dignified.

"He was subjected to violence which must have been almost unimaginable.

"The only people who saw the incident were the defendants, and there has to be an issue as to when it happened between 24 May and 29 May last year."

The case continues.