THE jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering Bradford grandfather Clement 'Butch' Desmier has begun deliberating its verdicts.

The panel first retired before lunch today to consider charges of murder and intimidation against 33-year-old David Lawler, formerly of Central Avenue, Shipley.

Mr Justice Blake reconvened the courtroom at 3.30pm and asked the jury if it had reached verdicts on any of the counts.

When the foreman replied 'no' he sent the panel home until 10.15am on Monday.

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The judge said it was "absolutely critical" that the jurors did not discuss the case until they resumed their deliberations.

Bradford Crown Court has heard that Mr Desmier, 68, was murdered at his home in Rowlestone Rise, Greengates, on August 23, 2012.

Bradford man Nathan Jefferson, 20, pleaded guilty to murder before the start of the trial.

Mr Desmier, who was found dead in his armchair, had sustained more than 60 penetrating and prod injuries. His right lung had been penetrated and there was a stab wound to his abdomen.

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING CLEMENT DESMIER TELLS BRADFORD JURY 'BEING VIOLENT DOESN'T MAKE ME A MURDERER'

A bone in the front of his neck had been fractured and there was evidence of forceful compression.

The house had been ransacked, with drawers and cupboards standing open and two empty cash boxes lying around.

Nine days after the murder, Lawler cut a man's throat at a party with a Stanley knife.

He is serving a ten year extended prison sentence for wounding and he has a conviction for violent disorder.

Lawler, a former member of the English Defence League, admitted in court that he was a violent man and a thug, but insisted he was probably asleep at home at the time of the murder.

He knew of Mr Desmier and had seen him selling tobacco and Viagra in the pubs, but he had never really spoken to him and had never visited his house.

“I’m not denying I am a violent guy. I’ve been violent. It doesn’t make me a murderer," he told the jury.

He said the throat slashing was very different from the murder of Mr Desmier.

“It was a spur of the moment crime. It was not a planned attack like the murder of Butch."

The trial continues.