A carer from Chelsea was beaten to death in Hyde Park by an 22-year-old who had been released on bail hours earlier, a court has been told.

Homeless man, Hani Khalaf, who the court heard was an illegal immigrant, allegedly kicked, punched and stamped on Jairo Medina near Speakers’ Corner on the evening of August 11 last year, leaving him for dead.

He pocketed the victim’s cash and stole his mobile phone which he tried to sell on hours later, the Old Bailey was told.

Mr Medina’s bruised and broken body was discovered early on August 12 by a groundsman on his way to work at 5.50am.

The defendant denies murder.

Mr Medina was found dead in the early hours of Friday morning

The victim, 62, originally from Columbia, was described by his former partner as “a carefree and very generous person”.

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC said: “Jairo Medina had sustained severe injuries, with numerous bruises and broken bones all over his body.

“His nose, his eye sockets, the bones in his voice box and two of his ribs had all been fractured.

“The injuries to his head and face were devastating and had caused traumatic brain injury.

“He died as a result of the blunt force injuries that he had suffered when he had been punched, kicked and stamped on - in short, he had been beaten to death.”

Forensics at the scene in Speakers' Corner, shortly after Mr Medina's body was found

He told jurors that the motive for the crime was greed as the victim’s belongings were strewn around the park, his rucksack searched and his wallet emptied.

The defendant changed his clothes and took the victim’s mobile phone to a shop in Kilburn High Road, where he tried to sell it, the court heard.

Investigators found CCTV of Khalaf with his victim at 11pm on the night of the killing at a supermarket near Marble Arch although Mr Glasgow said there was no obvious link between them.

Investigators found Khalaf’s DNA on Mr Medina’s rucksack and he was arrested a few days later on August 18.

Police vehicles at the scene in Hyde Park

Officers also found the victim’s blood on the defendant’s watch, belt and shoes, the court heard.

Mr Glasgow told jurors that Khalaf came to Britain in August 2014 when he was found hiding in the back of a lorry.

He told immigration officers he was 18-year-old Ali Nagieb Abu Mahir from Syria.

The prosecutor said he was in the country illegally and “liable for deportation”.

'Authorities do not know his real name, his nationality or even where he has been living'

He added: “In fact, very little is known about him. The authorities do not know his real name, his nationality or even where he has been living since in the country.”

The day before he met Mr Medina, Khalaf was arrested for shoplifting at the Superdry clothes shop in Regent Street and gave police the same name he told immigration.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was bailed hours before the killing.

He was arrested on August 16 for fare evasion and told police he was Hanni Hassan and later gave the name Khalaf, Mr Glasgow said.

Forensic teams carrying out work at Hyde Park

On August 18 he was arrested again for shoplifting and taken to Charing Cross police station, where he was also detained on suspicion of murder.

Mr Glasgow told jurors that Khalaf and Mr Medina had either had a “chance encounter” or had arranged to meet on the evening of August 11 last year.

The victim had only told his brother he was going out for the evening before leaving his Chelsea flat and catching the bus to Hyde Park.

The trial continues.

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