A MAN accused of murdering his 83-year-old father, broke down and wept when he told detectives how he saw the victim's battered body on the drive of their home.

Jules Lowe, who may have been sleepwalking at the time of the killing, said the last he recalled was "drinking himself into oblivion" with his father in the kitchen.

He told police: "We had loads, absolutely loads, and I could barely stand up and my dad was leathered.

"I just kept drinking and that was it.

"I just passed out. I just woke up in bed and presumed he had put me there."

Lowe, aged 32, said he realised his father was not in the bungalow at Windmill Lane, Walkden, when he woke up.

"I shouted him but he wasn't there.

"I went to the kitchen and it was in a mess. I couldn't find my dad and I opened the door and he was there.

"I went over and grabbed hold of him, Oh Jesus, oh my God."

Mr Lowe recounted the events during police interviews.

His father, who suffered 90 injuries, was found by police after neighbours raised the alarm. Lowe has denied murder at Manchester Crown Court.

The jury has told that Mr Lowe Snr had been punched, kicked and possibly stamped on and bludgeoned with a chair after a drinking spree with his son after the victim's dance partner died.

The court has heard that Lowe had a history of sleepwalking.

There would be evidence that the killing happened when he was asleep or in "a confusional arousal state" which could make the acts involuntary and give Lowe a defence of automatism.

Richard Marks QC prosecuting said the defence was "far fetched".

When asked about injuries to his hand, Lowe said they must have been caused as he stumbled round the kitchen while drunk.

Proceeding