Daughter’s horrific discovery of father’s naked body

The prosecutor said Love and William Smith were seen together in the early evening of March 20 by a witness before Mr Blackman was killed. They were at Love’s lock-up at Porkpie Farm.

At about the same time, Nicola Blackman saw her father alive for the last time.

She worked for him at a garage next to his home.

She went there to the bungalow to check on him shortly before 9am and found him lying naked on his back in the living and dining area.

He had severe facial injuries and was not breathing.

She returned to the garage and called the emergency services.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at 9.12am.

A post mortem revealed the injuries were concentrated on his head: he had black eyes, a broken nose, fractured left cheekbone and a subarachnoid haemorrhage, consistent with a brain injury.

Mr Blackman had defensive injuries to his hands and arms from trying to protect himself from blows.

“There were myriad abrasions and bruises extending over his body,” said Mr Taylor. “The nature of the injuries were entirely consistent with multiple blunt force trauma including not only heavy punches, but also stamps and kicks.”

The victim had fractured ribs and bruising to his abdomen.

The pathologist concluded there had been punches, stamps and kicks.

Mr Taylor said Mr Blackman was a quiet and private person who did not socialise outside his family.

He was “old school” and dealt only in cash. He lived alone with his Jack Russell, Bonzo.

The safe stolen would have contained cash between £100,000 and £250,000, property deeds, jewellery belonging to his late wife and an air rifle.

Police search the murder scene