David Allen murder: Jury finds Reading man Jacob Trussler guilty

Jacob Trussler, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of the murder of David Allen, who died in his Elgar Road home aged 77 on December 1, 2021.

The 37-year-old was unanimously convicted following five hours and 42 minutes of jury deliberations.

Trussler shook his head and clasped his hand over his mouth upon hearing the jury’s verdict.

David Allen

The defendant had denied murder, claiming he stabbed Mr Allen in self-defence after the 77-year-old allegedly confronted him with a knife.

But the jury rejected this account after hearing how Mr Allen suffered three stab wounds in a ‘vicious and brutal attack.’

Read more on this story: 

• Man killed grandfather in 'vicious and brutal' attack
• Murderer would regularly visit victim for tea, court hears
• 'I'm not a murderer', drug addict tells jury

Mr Graham Smith, prosecuting, said one wound was 20cm deep and caused fatal injuries to the grandfather.

The defendant placed the weapon -- a large kitchen knife -- and his jumper in Mr Allen’s sink following the incident.

Mr Smith said: “Rather than call the ambulance in the hope Mr Allen might be saved, Trussler put the kitchen knife and the blood-stained top he had been wearing in the sink.

Elgar Road, where David Allen was stabbed by Jacob Trussler

“Trussler left Mr Allen dead or dying alone on his kitchen floor, only to be discovered when his friends became concerned for him.”

Reading Crown Court heard how Trussler had known Mr Allen for ‘many, many years’ as his father, Barry Trussler, had been friends with him for more than six decades.

Mr Allen took Trussler ‘under his wing’, offering him food, shelter and money when he needed it.

Following the stabbing, Trussler took Mr Allen’s car and parked it near his brother’s flat.

Trussler then spent the rest of the day with his brother, Barry Cooper, who claimed the 37-year-old told him: “Baz, don't be pissed off, Dad's going to kill me, I am going to prison for this.

“I beat the f*** out of Dave.

Elgar Road, where David Allen was stabbed by Jacob Trussler

“Dad won't speak to me again, you're all I've got.”

Jacob Trussler was arrested by police officers at 9.35am on December 2, 2021.

An officer captured Trussler saying 'get me a fag please, I'm going away for a long time' on body-worn camera footage.

Giving evidence at the trial, Trussler confessed to being a drug addict as he had taken cocaine and heroin for more than ten years.

He said: “I would never hurt him. I’m no angel, I’ve got a drug addiction, I accept responsibility for his death but I’m not a murderer and I don’t go round killing people in cold blood.

“I’ve got to live with all this, I’ve destroyed my family, I’ve destroyed everything, but I’m not a murderer.”

Jacob Trussler was convicted of murdering David Allen in his own home

However, this account was rejected by a jury and Trussler was convicted at Reading Crown Court on Friday, May 27.

He will be sentenced at the same court at a later date.

Dismissing the jury, Her Honour Judge Norton said Trussler will receive a life sentence and will go to prison for a ‘long time.’