A man accused of killing a porter was looking for a fight and “bouncing” moments before the stabbing, a jury said.
Matthew Sheridan was drunk and appeared to be on drugs when he argued over a bottle of vodka that was allegedly stolen from a studio in Yeovil.
He is on trial in Exeter Crown Court on charges of the murder of Louis Bednall, 40, a father of five, in December last year.
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The tenant of the Hendford Hill studio told the jury that Sheridan, known as Manic, got angry when asked to return an unopened bottle of vodka that had disappeared from the room.
Simon Bishop said he saw Sheridan stab Mr Bednall on several occasions in the head and neck with a weapon he believed to be a screwdriver.
He saw blood spurting into the room after a blow pierced Mr Bednall’s jugular vein.
Sheridan, 30, of South Petherton, Somerset, denies the murder.
Louis Bednall died in December of last year
He claims that another man, who was with him, committed the murder.
The jury heard that Mr Bednall had driven from his home in Torbay with his 22-year-old friend Tanya Robins to visit Mr Bishop, who was living with his 16-year-old girlfriend in Room 4 on the middle floor of the building.
They had watched movies before heading out just before the local Tesco closed at midnight to buy potted noodles. They returned to Room 4 to find that someone had climbed a low roof, opened the window and stole the bottle of vodka that Mr. Bednall had brought with him.
Sheridan was spending the night with his friend Derrick Michael, known as Diggy, in his room 7 upstairs.
Mr Bishop said they met Manic and Diggy on their return from Tesco and noticed Sheridan holding a bottle of vodka identical to the one they left in the room.
He went upstairs to find his room unlocked, the window open and his Ringo parrot flying around. He realized that the vodka was stolen.
He said he spoke to Diggy asking him to get it back and an argument ensued with Manic who came upstairs shortly before a fight broke out.
He then stayed on the landing outside and half inside, half out of the room, until he stepped into the cramped space and the argument turned violent.
In a recorded police interview later that day, Mr Bishop said: “Manic threw the first punch and Louis tried to hold him back. He took out a screwdriver and repeatedly stabbed the top of Louis’ head and shoulder.
“Then he punctured the chinstrap on the side of his neck. They ended up on the ground after everything that happened. Diggy was trying to train Manic. I heard him say “you idiot, don’t do it.”
“They came down the stairs, leaving me to face this horrible incident. It wasn’t like the blood was flowing. It spurted on my wall and my ceiling. Tanaya was screaming that Louis was dying “
Mr Bishop stated that Manic and Diggy were drunk and that he believed they were both doing drugs due to their “hyperactive” behavior. He said Manic was initially on the defensive when challenged over the stolen vodka, but then became aggressive.
He said: “Manic was looking for a fight. He was hopping like he was looking for a fight, he was hyperactive. I think he was looking for a reason to attack someone.
“Louis defended himself. Manic wanted to hurt someone. He and Diggy didn’t like Louis because he was in a relationship with Tanaya and they were all trying to be macho to try to impress him.
In cross-examination, he said he now knew the gun was a knife, but believed at the time that it was a screwdriver. He said he was sure it was Sheridan who brandished it.
The two women who were in the room with Mr. Bishop have already testified and both told the jury that they saw Sheridan stabbing.
Miss Robins said she tried to save Louis’ life by putting pressure on the neck injury, but couldn’t stop the bleeding.
Mr Bishop’s 16-year-old girlfriend said the stabbing was like a scene from a horror movie.
The jury was shown the police body camera of Sheridan’s arrest, which occurred after police broke down the door to Mr. Michael’s Room 7.
Mr. Michael refused to open the door, telling the police to get a warrant. When arrested, Sheridan claimed he had fought an assailant on the street about 90 minutes earlier and had been in the room since that time.
He denied entering Room 4 or having anything to do with the stabbing.
The trial continues.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-29 20:41:24
