Rose Smith, 75, died in hospital 24 hours after being attacked
A former soldier accused of killing a great-grandmother and assaulting her husband with a metal pole during a burglary at their home has been remanded in custody.
Rose Smith, 75, and her husband Ronald Smith, 81, were watching TV at their home in Tollington Park, Finsbury Park, North London, when four men burst in and made demands for cash, a court heard.
Mr Smith was assaulted with a metal pole and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and later discharged.
A neighbour flagged down police who entered the home around 9.20pm on August 11 and found Mrs Smith collapsed in the hallway.
She was taken to hospital where she died 24 hours later.
A post-mortem examination gave the preliminary cause of death as a stroke, which the prosecution alleges was caused by the incident.
Jeffrey Dean Rose, 46, is charged with manslaughter, assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Mr Smith, and aggravated burglary with intent.
He appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday wearing a grey tracksuit with a short beard and spoke to confirm his name and date of birth.
Prosecutor Grace Bussey said Mr and Mrs Smith were watching TV when four men burst in.
She said the man armed with a metal pole began striking Mr Smith, who “had to raise his arms to protect his face”.
She said: “They were told to sit on the sofa and their phones were taken off them.
“When Mrs Smith left the living room she collapsed in the hallway.”
Police attempted CPR before taking Mrs Smith to hospital.
Suzanne John, defending, said Rose, a father-of-two, was a private investigator from 2012 to 2016.
She said he was then a soldier but was discharged due to the coronavirus pandemic and became a bin man.
Rose, of Apsley Close, North Harrow, was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on September 22.
In a statement, Mrs Smith’s family, who are being supported by specialist officers, said: “This is the most devastating loss our family could ever have imagined.
“Rose was a truly wonderful, outgoing woman who was loved by so many people.
“She loved bingo, going to cafes with her friends and, above all, spending time with her family.
“She treasured the time she spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.
“She was the life and soul of every party. She had a wonderful personality, a big heart and a way of bringing laughter and happiness wherever she went.
“We want people to remember Rose for the person she truly was – loving, fun, kind, sociable and full of life.”
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