A British court has heard how Wang Yam allegedly beat 86-year-old millionaire Allan Chappelow to death and assumed the author's identity in order to gain access to his wealth, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

Prosecutors allege Yam left Chappelow's decaying body in one of the rooms at the author's London home in May 2006 and then proceeded to steal money from his bank and credit card accounts.

Chappelow's body was found June 14, 2006, in his rundown home and prosecutors said the grisly discovery allegedly prompted Yam to flee the country.

Yam has since denied the charges against him and prosecutors said the evidence against him is mainly circumstantial, the British newspaper reported.