Pictured: Care home resident, 93, ‘beaten to death in her room with walking stick’

A care home resident beat a 93-year-old woman to death with a walking stick, the Old Bailey heard today. 

Alexander Rawson, 62, is accused of murdering fellow resident Eileen Dean at the Fieldside care home in Catford, southeast London, this week.

The elderly woman was battered so hard in her room that prosecutors told the court the stick’s broken handle was found ’embedded’ in her neck. 

Ms Dean was rushed to hospital by paramedics in the early hours of Monday but was later pronounced dead. 

Police are yet to ascertain the motive behind the alleged killing as there was no CCTV footage of the attack.

Paul Jarvis, prosecuting, said: ‘Around about 12.30am on 4 January this year, Mr Rawson called the police from the care home where he was living.

‘It was very quickly ascertained that a lady called Mrs Dene, who was 93 at the time, living in the room next door or opposite was on her bed covered in blood having sustained serious injuries to her head.

‘There was the broken handle of a walking stick embedded on the base of her neck.’

Rawson appeared on video-link from HMP Thameside today to confirm his name and age.

He was remanded into custody by Judge Anthony Leonard QC until March 25 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Rawson, of Canadian Avenue, Catford, faces a single count of murder.