MAN ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY STEPSON OVER WILL DISPUTE
Prosecutors claim Dr Jason Waite, 54, 'hated' his stepfather, Peter Skilton, following a long-running legal battle over his mother's estate in Snitterby, Lincolnshire, which was valued at more than £5m.A trial at Lincoln Crown Court heard Mr Skilton died from a head injury after he was thrown to the ground by Dr Waite.
The incident on 17 December was witnessed by two new tenants who had moved into the cottage the previous night.
Jurors heard Dr Waite grabbed Mr Skilton by the lapels of his jacket and then pushed him back along the gravel drive towards a concrete area.
When Mr Skilton's head struck the ground he received a serious injury and was immediately knocked out cold.
Mr Skilton was airlifted to hospital in Hull where he died on 19 December.
The prosecution allege Dr Waite sat calmly while efforts were made to try and save his stepfather, later explaining he was in shock and did not try to intervene as he had no medical training.
The legal battle over the estate lasted six years, involving disputes over probate and entitlement to property from Eileen Skilton's estate.
Dr Waite denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter relating to Mr Skilton's death.
