Burglar jailed for 'savage' killing

A burglar who helped batter a defenceless householder to death and then set light to his body was locked up indefinitely today.

Schizophrenic Nabeel Aljubori and accomplice Derek Dale never gave their victim a chance as they set about him with what the prosecution branded "appalling savagery".

They even sliced off one of Paul Geddes's ears and partially severed the other one, Southwark Crown Court was told.

The killers, who had embarked on a night-long burglary rampage in Plumstead, south- east London, last June to find money for drugs, then left him to die of multiple injuries.

Afterwards they tried to break into the house of one of his neighbours.

Later that day they returned to Mr Geddes's home, doused his body with petrol and then set light to him and his flat in a bid to destroy incriminating evidence.

Dale, who is 18, deaf, and from the Plumstead area, was convicted of murder at an Old Bailey trial earlier this year and ordered to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Aljubori, 24, who lived nearby, was found guilty of manslaughter.

His sentence was adjourned until today for psychiatric reports.

Dr Callum Ross said Aljubori had all the hallmarks of hebephrenic schizophrenia, including delusions, hallucinations and unpredictability, and posed a risk to the public.

He remained emotionless as Judge Peter Fingret told him: "This was a particularly brutal and callous killing of a mild and inoffensive young man.

"You and your co-defendant beat him to death, in the course of which one of his ears was severed and attempt was made to do the same with the other.

"Both of you, in attempting to destroy the incriminating evidence, then set fire to his body and to his flat."

He ordered Aljubori to be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.