Murder-room man gets cleared of all charges

17 March 2007

Murdered Russell Aylett with his daughter Danielle

A MAN charged with brutally murdering a father of three has been found not guilty.

Michael Cocks, 27, was alleged to have helped beat Russell Aylett, 43, to death at his temporary bed-sit at Romford YMCA, Rush Green Road, in March last year.

The father-of-three's decomposing body was found stuffed in a wardrobe three days later, after staff investigated a smell. A post-mortem revealed he was alive when dumped in the wardrobe.

Richard Truszczynski, 26, pleaded guilty to the murder. He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey today (Friday).

It was claimed Cocks had joined Truszczynski in the horrific attack, which left the former Romford man with bruising to head, back, arms, legs, heavy skull injuries, a broken nose, nine broken ribs, partially collapsed lungs and a fractured larynx.

Police found Cock's bloody fingerprints smeared on a beer can in the tiny bedroom and blood on his trainers and jeans.

But last Friday an Old Bailey jury unanimously cleared him of murder, manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Cocks admitted being in the room on the night of the killing but insisted it was Truszczynski who inflicted the fatal blows.

Read more in the Recorder.