Man convicted of killing elderly relative in botched burglary at his Essex home

A man has been convicted of murdering an elderly relative after a vicious assault at his home in a quiet Essex village.

Leighton Snook had contacted Donald Ralph in the weeks and days before his death and asked for money as he owed a debt to drug dealers.

Snook returned on 28 December last year with a teenage accomplice and Snook beat and strangled the 83-year-old to death at his home in Halstead Road.

They then stole his car and two guns and drove to Hastings in Sussex. Mr Ralph’s niece, Tina Ralph, found his body the following day and alerted police.

Officers tracked down and arrested Snook and the 16-year-old boy within three days and they were both charged in connection with his death.

The jury heard the pair had taken a taxi from Mersea Road in Colchester to Aldham.

CCTV footage captured them walking towards Mr Ralph’s address, and subsequently showed his car driving back towards Colchester after the murder.

Snook’s DNA was found on both Mr Ralph’s hands and on clothing around his neck.A knife was later found inside the stolen car and DNA from both Snook and the teenage boy were found on the handle.

Detectives said it would never be clear what exactly happened inside the bungalow.

Snook, 28, of Albrighton Croft, Colchester, had denied murder and burglary.  

The boy, who is from Leicester and cannot be identified for legal reasons, also denied murder.

They stood trial at Ipswich Crown Court, which started on 14 June, and a jury returned verdicts today, Thursday 12 August.

Snook was convicted of murder and burglary. The boy was convicted of manslaughter and found not guilty of murder. He had previously admitted a charge of burglary.

Both are due to be sentenced on 1 October at Ipswich Crown Court.

Police have yet to recover the missing guns and are urging anyone with information to get in touch.

Mr Ralph's niece Tina said: “Learning that a member of the family is responsible for murdering Don was a shock. The injuries he suffered and how he was killed are incomprehensible to me. He was loved and respected by the family.

“It is so hard to understand why anyone would have wanted to hurt him. His extended family all live locally and this has really had an impact on us all.

The missing guns are a self-loading Ruger Rifle 22 RF, serial number 354-66591, and a Browning shot gun 12 bore over/under, serial number 419 13 MW.

Anyone with information about the missing guns is asked to contact Essex Police via  scd.appeals.essex@essex.pnn.police.uk or online at https://www.essex.police.uk  Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org