The jury is out in the trial of two men accused of beating and drowning a Falmouth pensioner last January in order to steal his life savings.

Following four weeks of evidence and the judge's summing up, the jury must now decide the fate of Kevin Cooper, 34, of Poldory View, Carharrack, who stands accused of killing David Alderson and leaving his body.

Jurors must also decide whether or not to convict 21 year old Trewen Kevern, of Godolphin Road in Falmouth, who stands accused of joint enterprise in the murder.

The court was told that the prosecution had said there was "overwhelming" indication from a number of circumstances that Cooper had killed or been party to the killing of Mr Alderson.

These circumstances included Cooper's "sudden acquisition of large sums of money", that he spent from the evening of the killing, and that the cash he was spending, in £50 notes, was issued before November 2011 when Mr Alderson withdrew the bulk of his money from his account.

There was also the matter of keys to Mr Alderson's home and ammunition safe being found in Cooper's BMW, the connection to David Alderson of several items handed to police by the Kevern family, and of money given by Cooper to Trewen Kevern.

The prosecution also submitted to the jury two "admissions" by Cooper: One to Jenny Pegg before Mr Alderson was killed, saying that he "was going to get his hands on the money"; and one after the crime that he had "killed the man on the news because he was a nonce."

Regarding the charges laid against Trewen Kevern, the judge told the jury that Cooper had admitted to previous convictions, but denied being a murderer, instead accusing Kevern and his family of planning "to blame him to deflect blame from Trewen Kevern."

The judge said that although members of the Kevern family had had either changed their story or not been late in coming forward to police, that "doesn't necessarily point to a conspiracy" against Cooper, but a might be a chance for him to give himself in. However once police announced that they were considering a murder charge, concerns for Trewen Kevern could have motivated the family to come forward.

The judge reminded jurors that as Kevern is charged with the murder of Mr Alderson by joint enterprise, if Cooper was found not guilty there would be no option except to acquit Kevern. However if Cooper was found guilty, the jury would still have to make a separate decision in the case of Kevern.

The jury was sent out on Monday morning, the trial continues.