Stepdad accused of1968 murder

A man murdered his young stepson by swinging him round by the ankles and smashing his head into a fireplace, and then lied about it for 50 years, a court has heard.

David Dearlove, 71, is accused of killing 19-monthold Paul Booth in 1968 after the toddler’s then threeyearold brother Peter claimed he saw the attack through a crack in a door.

In 2015, Peter became incensed by a picture posted on Facebook of Mr Dearlove, who now lives in Great Yarmouth, holding his younger brother, and gave an interview to the police. Dearlove, who denies murder as well as manslaughter and three charges of cruelty, claimed Paul fell out of bed and struck his head on the floor. The case at Teesside Crown Court continues.