Murdered man was involved in drugs scam Old Bailey jury told

A MAN was found bludgeoned to death in his Holloway flat after agreeing to take part in a drugs scam, an Old Bailey jury has heard.
It was claimed that James Pounal’s partner in the plan to rip off local dealers turned out to be his killer.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett, QC, said Mr Pounal, 51, was found dead by police at his first-floor flat, in Selden Walk on the Andover estate, on January 21 last year.
Neighbours raised the alarm because of the dreadful smell coming from the property.
The jobless victim had severe head injuries and had last seen alive on New Year’s Eve.
Mr Aylett said large sums of money were withdrawn from Mr Pounal’s bank account. His mobile phone had been stolen and used.
He was known to sell ecstasy tablets and detectives discovered that he was going to “set up a business” with Iraklis Malamas, 33, to buy drugs from dealers in the Holloway and Islington area.
But the pair were intending to “pay” for supplies with counterfeit banknotes and then sell the drugs for real cash.
Malamas, unemployed, of Camden Road, Kentish Town, denies murder of Mr Pounal, who came to London from Canada in the 1970s and enrolled on more than a dozen courses to study at City and Islington College.
The trial continues.
DAVID ST GEORGE