Langwith Junction murder accused visited four betting shops on day of attack

Mrs Walker, aged 86, died after receiving ‘multiple blunt force injuries’. Her husband Kenneth, 88, a former Bolsover District and Shirebrook Town councillor, survived with similar injuries, but died in August from natural causes.

Derby Crown Court has heard Culea entered their Station Road home to rob them of £30,000 in cash on January 14.

Jurors today heard how on the day of the attack Culea was seen in Shirebrook, entering Betfred at about 8.20am, before visiting a William Hill shop in Mansfield.

The 34-year-old then entered another Betfred shop in Mansfield and later returned to the original Betfred shop, on Market Place, Shirebrook.

The court heard how during the same day Culea conducted seven reconnaissance missions past the Station Road home of the Walkers.

Culea’s Audi A4 car was seen passing the couple’s home from various directions – executing U-turns and at one point parking up as he walked past the house on foot twice.

Detective Michael O’Connor confirmed for Michael Auty KC, prosecuting, that at about 6.30pm Culea received a text message from the Buffalo Spins gambling website.

Mrs Walker’s friend tried unsuccessfully to call her at 7.26pm and at 8.26pm – exactly an hour later – Culea was seen walking down an alleyway at the back of the Walkers’ garden.

Yesterday, the court heard Culea’s ‘savage and sustained’ attack on Mr and Mrs Walker was ‘completely devoid of any mercy’.

Mr Auty said the couple, who received 'frankly horrific injuries,' had lived together for more than 60 years in their Station Road home, before Culea struck.

A concerned neighbour found Mrs Walker dead in the kitchen, ‘hog-tied’ by her wrists and right ankle, with a pillow case and a black bin-liner over her head.

Blood had ‘heavily pooled around her body’ and a post-mortem revealed she received ‘multiple blunt force injuries’.

Mr Walker, who had also been gagged and bound, survived with similar injuries, but died in August from natural causes.

Three months earlier, Mr Walker withdrew £30,000 in cash for home improvements, which he hid in bundles around their cluttered house.

Automatic police number plate cameras tracked Culea's Audi near the Walkers’ home, while CCTV captured him on foot wearing a high-visibility jacket while completing three circuits of the area on Friday, January 14.

Mr Auty said: “Culea knew there was £30,000 there and he was determined to have it. Ken had hidden it, but apparently forgot where he hid it.

“Imagine, if you can, the fear. Imagine the stress. Ken would have handed it over in heartbeat if it would have saved Freda suffering.

“As things got worse, Culea would know the consequences of this attack on this elderly couple. There came a time when he had to ensure they couldn't identify him.”

Culea, of Grove Road, Church Warsop, admitted the manslaughter of Mrs Walker and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Walker, yesterday.

He denies her murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as the attempted murder of Mr Walker.

The trial continues