GARDENER David Hall has admitted murdering pensioner Dennis Plater – but mystery still surrounds the killer's motive.

On Thursday 47-year-old Hall pleaded guilty to killing Mr Plater in a "frenzied murder" in which the 82-year-old was stabbed 40 times at his Rodborough home.

Prosecutor Christopher Quinlan QC asked for the sentencing of Hall, who is from Stroud, to be postponed so that the motive of the murder could be investigated further.

Speaking during the hearing at Bristol Crown Court, Mr Quinlan said further evidence was needed “to look into whether it was a murder for gain, that is the theft of money, or whether it was a frenzied attack."

He added: “We will also consider whether it was a matter involving sadistic conduct, given the nature, number and location of the 40 fresh knife injuries he sustained.

“We take the view that it has the potential to make a material difference to the sentence."

Hall, who had no fixed address, had worked as a gardener for Mr Plater at his Walkley Road home.

Neighbours found Mr Plater, a widower, on his driveway after the murder on November 7 last year.

Hall was arrested two days later, 100 miles away from the murder scene, in Southsea, Hampshire.

After Hall pleaded guilty, one of Mr Plater's neighbours told the SNJ that the community still had no idea about the killer's motives.

“What we want to know now is why,” said the woman, who had also employed Hall as a gardener.

Describing the Hall she remembered as “happy go lucky”, she added: “I can’t see any reason why he would want to kill Dennis at all because he was kind to David – he’d make him a cup of tea and chat with him.

“If the weather was bad, as a gardener he’d either come to me or come to Dennis for a cup of tea when he was at a loss for what to do and we’d both just let him in, make him a drink and then he’d wander off again.”

In a tribute to Mr Plater, she said: “I just appreciated him as a friend big time. He was kind and would do anything for anybody.

“He was a genuine and law abiding human being, a gentle man. He had a lovely family.”

Hall initially denied murdering Mr Plater, pleading not guilty during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court in February.

But on Thursday, when the charge was put to him again, he simply said: "Guilty."

Jonathan Challinor, representing Hall, insisted the murder had not been for financial gain.

Judge Neil Ford QC adjourned the sentencing for a date yet to be fixed. Hall remains in custody.

At the time of the murder, Mr Plater’s family paid tribute to him as a “beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather.

“Dennis and his wife Mary moved to Stroud in 2004 to be closer to their daughter and her family, they had come to call it home.

“Dennis enjoyed crafts, tapestry and was most happy tinkering with his model railway.

“It is incomprehensible that we have lost Dennis in this way.”