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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Man FaceTimed girlfriend as he beat his grandfather to death in New Cross

A man FaceTimed his girlfriend while he beat his 74-year-old grandfather to death at his home in south east London, a court has heard.

Jack Forde, 25, has admitted killing Christopher Martin at the home they shared in Wild Goose Drive, New Cross, in the early hours of May 28, 2021.

Forde video called his girlfriend on FaceTime during the attack, and she witnessed some of the violence.

He appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, wearing a blue and white Puma jacket as he denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

Prosecutor Julian Evans, KC, accepted the plea and said the case would not proceed to trial.

A post mortem gave Mr Martin’s cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head, chest and abdomen.

Forde was arrested at 4.45am on the day of the attack, and was taken to hospital due to his erratic behaviour.

He is due to be sentenced on May 12.

Judge Anthony Leonard, KC, ordered psychiatric reports ahead of his sentencing.

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