OAP murder trial: 'Attack took away my mother's life'
Ada Hopkinson was found with head injuries at her home in Shirburn Road, Leek, by her daughter on March 18, 2005.
Mrs Hopkinson never left hospital and died in February 2008.
Benjamin Brough, who used to live in Shaw Place, Leek, has gone on trial accused of murdering the pensioner.
The 21-year-old has already been found guilty of causing Mrs Hopkinson grievous bodily harm with intent in May 2006 after breaking into her home and attacking her.
Stafford Crown Court heard Mrs Hopkinson suffered irreversible brain damage, later needed 24-hour nursing care and had to be fed through a tube because she could not swallow.
A post-mortem examination revealed she died from peritonitis due to a leak from her feeding tube.
Alan Conrad QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "The prosecution says that the feeding tubes were necessary because of Ada Hopkinson's condition following the assault.
"Therefore the infection that led to her death was directly related to the assault.
"It's sufficient for the prosecution to prove that the assault contributed significantly to the death; it does not have to be the sole cause.
"Mrs Hopkinson was a lady who was physically able and functioning prior to the assault.
"After the assault, she could not do anything for herself. Put shortly, the assault caused her death."
Mrs Hopkinson's daughter Pat Davis told the court that before the attack her mother took care of herself, her home and her garden with very little help.
Mrs Davis said: "She was fiercely independent. I visited regularly and liked to do things for her, but she never asked me to, so I had to be subtle about it.
"She walked to a lunch club twice a week and was known as 'the lady with the legs' because she was the only one who went there under her own steam rather than by ambulance.
"I visited her twice a day; not because I had to but because I chose to. I was her only child and I loved her very much."
Mrs Davis described the "horrendous sight" of seeing her injured mother.
She said: "I had never seen such a horrendous scene. I thought she was dead, I didn't think anyone, particularly of that age, could survive the beating she'd had."
One jury member was discharged after being too shocked by photographs of Mrs Hopkinson's injuries.
After Mr Conrad asked the jury to look at a photograph taken of Mrs Hopkinson's facial injuries on her admission to the North Staffordshire Hospital, one member wiped away tears and covered her mouth with her hands before handing a note to a court usher.
Mr Justice Treacy then discharged the juror after asking members of the panel to consider whether they would be able to concentrate on and consider the evidence fairly. The trial continues with just 11 jurors.
Related news:
Ada Hopkinson murder trial starts
Ada murder accused facing fresh trial after new 'not guilty' plea
BIRTHDAY GIRL: Ada Hopkinson celebrating her 90th birthday with daughter Pat Davies in 2001 before she was brutally attacked in 2005.
