Attacked D-Day veteran ‘thought he was dead’

COURT: Man on trial accused of attempted murder after 96-year-old hit with hammer

A D-Day veteran has described the moment he thought “he has killed me” as he collapsed to the floor after being attacked by a “desperate” and angry cold-caller with a claw hammer.

James Booth, 96, known as Jim, suffered multiple depressed skull fractures in the attack at his Gypsy Lane, Taunton, home on November 22 and was “left for dead” by his attacker.

Yesterday, Joseph Isaacs, 40, went on trial accused of attempting to murder Mr Booth after becoming angry when the older man refused his offer of doing cheap work to his roof tiles.

The court heard Isaacs shouted “money, money, money” as he launched his attack on the Royal Navy veteran and followed him through a passageway in his home, to his living room where Mr Booth collapsed.

Rachel Drake, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Booth tried to evade his attacker, who hit him on the head and arms, by retreating into his home. She said: “Once Mr Booth was incapacitated the defendant took his wallet and, the Crown say, left him for dead.”

Two days after the attack, Mr Booth, who was being treated at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, explained what happened to him in a video-recorded interview with police.

The video, played to jurors yesterday, showed Mr Booth lying in his hospital bed wearing a hospital gown and with a noticeably black eye, both hands bandaged as he spoke to the officers.

Mr Booth said he knew he was seriously injured as he fell to the floor.

“I thought ‘oh my God, I am dead, he has killed me’,” he said.

Mr Booth said he noticed the hammer Isaacs used was “shiny”, almost as if it was brand new, and a “jolly big size”.

He said: “It was not an ordinary small one, garden hammer or one in the house, you know it was a whacking great hammer, yeah, with a big claw.

“I suppose he hit me with it but he... obviously some of the hits are not on my face or head some... I suppose I put my hand up but I don’t know about that.”

Mr Booth said when he fell to the floor there was “blood pouring everywhere” and he tried to find his mobile phone to raise the alarm but could not find it, while his landline did not work.

Instead he was forced to make his way, at times crawling, out into the street where he was spotted by a neighbour.

Isaacs, who is appearing at the trial via video link from HMP Long Lartin, denies attempted murder.

Earlier he admitted counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and six counts of fraud in relation to the incident.

The trial continues.

Picture: PA. Jim Booth dancing with the Duchess of Cornwall.