AN Ely man appeared at The Old Bailey today accused of murdering a retired Cambridgeshire farmer.
Frankie Parker, 25, of Nene Road, Ely and Gary Smith, 20, of no fixed address, both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Llywelyn Thomas of Chittering.
Mr Thomas, a retired farmer from Wales, was found dead in his home in Ely Road on December 18, 2011.
He had suffered multiple injuries to his head and face.
Both Parker and Smith deny the charge.
Also appearing at the Old Bailey today was John Smith, 66, of Woldgate, Bridlington, North Humberside.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of assisting an offender.
He will stand trial alongside Parker and Smith when the case is heard at Cambridge Crown Court on July 1.
Mr Thomas lived alone in a £500,000 converted Victorian chapel in Chittering having moved there in 1999 after the death of his wife and to be near to his son.
He was an avid collector of old cars and at any time could be working on as many as 20 vehicles.
One neighbour described him as “the nicest man you could meet.”
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