West Bromwich murderer’s father and brother ‘involved in robbery’, jury told

The pair were overheard plotting the crime and may have taken part in it, said Mr Andrew Wallace, prosecuting.

Prolific burglar Paul Cooke was locked up for more than 28 years last year after admitting killing 65-year-old Ronald Smith, who was stabbed at his maisonette in Cottage Walk, West Bromwich.

Mr Wallace told Wolverhampton Crown Court: “Paul Cooke was not at the property on his own on the night he murdered Ronald Smith. He is not the only one with blood on his hands. It may be somebody else who is not in the dock, or it may be the two who appear before you.”

Mr Wallace said the murderer’s father, Colin Raymond Cooke, was the ‘Judas’ who persuaded Mr Smith to open his front door to the robbers.

The prosecutor maintained that both Cooke, aged 62, and his 37-year-old son, also called Colin, ‘harboured’ Paul Cooke after the murder by arranging either a hotel room or accommodation with acquaintances for the killer.

The body of Mr Smith was found just inside the front door at the foot of the stairs to almost a month after the murder which took place on on May 6, 2015.

Cash and jewellery had been stolen from the property. He was in his 60s and a private man who would not open his door to strangers, said neighbours.The man, in his 60s, He had the ‘misfortune’ to know Colin Cooke senior, who was a regular visitor and realised money was kept there, it was alleged.

Mr Wallace maintained neither of the sons knew Mr Smith well and insisted: “It would be really difficult to get into the address without an introduction and it makes no sense that the robbery could have taken place without the assistance of Colin Cooke senior.

“He was the Judas who could persuade Mr Smith to open the door.””

Colin Cooke senior and junior were heard discussing a plan to rob the victim a day or so before the offence and phone records showed they were in the ‘general vicinity’ of the incident when it took place, it was alleged.

Colin Cooke junior switched to a different mobile after the day the murder was committed, added the prosecutor.

And Colin Cooke senior was reportedly seen with a clock that was supposed to have been part of the haul from the ill-fated robbery.

His son Colin said in an alleged statement to police that he was aware Paul was on the run when the brother phoned to say he had money and doing a robbery. They then met and split around £600 cash into stashes for them and their parents, it was claimed.

Mr Wallace added: “Both Colin Cooke senior and junior had planned this robbery and were involved in it, although we cannot say who did what.”

Colin Cook senior, from Wilford Road, West Bromwich, and junior, of no fixed address, deny conspiracy to rob Ronald Smith and assisting an offender. The case continues.