The killer of a Canberra grandfather delivered up to 10 blows to his victim's head, resulting in trauma a pathologist described on Friday as "very, very extensive".
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The trial of Danny Klobucar, 27, on Friday heard grisly evidence about the extensive injuries inflicted to Miodrag Gajic, 71, at his small Phillip unit on New Year's Day in 2014.
The Crown say Mr Gajic was killed near the front entrance, before being dragged back into the hallway.
Mr Klobucar, who had been to Mr Gajic's unit to buy cannabis several days earlier, is accused of the killing. It is alleged that Mr Klobucar began to believe Mr Gajic was a paedophile, and went to the apartment to attack him.
The accused, represented by barristers John Purnell, SC, and Ray Livingstone, is denying responsibility, saying Mr Gajic was already dead when he got there.
He is also relying on a defence of mental impairment, and the court has heard evidence of his deteriorating mental state in the lead-up to New Year's Day.
On Friday, the ACT Supreme Court heard from pathologist Paul Dodd, who assessed Mr Gajic's injuries.
Dr Dodd said it was difficult to ascertain how many blows were delivered in the attack.
"This particular case, the trauma to the head is very, very extensive," he said.
"So it's very hard to determine how many individual blows have been landed."
But he said he believed it was between eight to 10.
The injuries, he said, could not have been inflicted by a fist, and listed a baseball bat or pole as the most likely weapons.
Dr Dodd rated the force involved in the blows as "moderate to severe".
It also appeared that Mr Gajic's face may have been stomped on.
The Crown, represented by Mark Fernandez, is alleging bloody shoe-prints left at the unit match a Puma sports shoe found in Mr Klobucar's ute after his arrest.
Crime scene examiner Sarah Jess explained to the jury on Thursday that her team had used Luminol – a chemical agent that reacts with blood, giving a glowing effect – to reveal hidden shoe-prints and drag marks throughout the unit.
Examiners cut up squares of carpet upon which the shoe prints had been left, taking them back to the Australian Federal Police laboratory for further examination.
The jury is expected to hear from an expert in shoe print identification next week.
The Crown are also alleging that Mr Klobucar took Mr Gajic's phone and called his uncle and former housemate after the killing, two numbers that had never been dialled from the device before.
Mr Klobucar, in a letter outlining his version of events, said he had only taken the phone to call the police after discovering Mr Gajic's body. But he said he then feared becoming a suspect, so decided against going to authorities.
The trial continues before Justice Hilary Penfold on Monday.
