Murder accused 'jumped through roof'

PC Ged Walker died two days after the incident

A car thief accused of murdering a policeman burst through the roof of a house after being spotted hiding in the loft, a court has heard.

Prosecutor Peter Joyce QC, told Birmingham Crown Court that David Parfitt attempted to flee a day after the death of Nottinghamshire Pc Ged Walker.

The court previously heard how Pc Walker died after being dragged more than 100 yards along a street in Bulwell, Nottingham, on 7 January.

Concluding his opening speech, Mr Joyce showed jurors photos of a house in Caldon Green, Bulwell, where Mr Parfitt, 26, was seen hiding under insulation material.

He said: "That hole in the roof there shows just how determined he was to launch himself out to escape.

Nothing was going to stop him in his drive to escape Peter Joyce, QC

"He gone through the laths, he's gone through the tiles and he's had to be hauled back in by police officers."

Switching back to the previous day's events, when Pc Walker died, Mr Joyce said: "David Parfitt didn't stop, David Parfitt wouldn't stop.

"Nothing was going to stop him in his drive to escape. He wouldn't stop even if it meant causing serious injury of killing that policeman.

"That's why, the Crown submit he's guilty of murder."

The jury has heard how Pc Walker was trapped in the driver's window of a stolen taxi driven by Mr Parfitt before he was thrown into a concrete bollard.

'Called a cab'

Mr Parfitt, of Aspley, Nottingham, denies murdering the 42-year-old, who died in hospital two days after the incident.

Mr Joyce previously alleged the defendant was being hunted by police, including Pc Walker, after abandoning a stolen Vauxhall Astra in a pub car park.

The thief initially fled on to a golf course, before entering a property in St Albans Road, Bulwell, where he talked a housewife into letting him ring a cab.

When the taxi arrived, Mr Parfitt ran to the vehicle and leapt into the driver's seat, the court heard.

The taxi driver jumped into the passenger seat and Pc Walker and his dog became "stuck".

The prosecution allege Mr Parfitt covered the keys with his right hand to stop either of the men turning off the engine before Pc Walker, who was pleading with Mr Parfitt to stop, was thrown into the bollard.

The case continues.