SHOCKING DETAILS EMERGE AFTER NEIGHBOUR K!LLS NAVY VETERAN ON CHRISTMAS DAY
BRUTAL MURDER
Neighbour, 67, suffocated Royal Navy veteran on Xmas Day after he was being ‘too noisy’ then recorded his dying words
A 67-year-old suffocated a Royal Navy veteran on Christmas Day because he was being too noisy, a court heard.
James Hughes got into a row with his neighbour, Harold Turner, 68, over noise coming from his home.
James Hughes, 67, has been jailed for life after murdering a navy veteranCredit: WALES NEWS SERVICE
Harold Turner’s dying words were recorded on a Dictaphone by HughesCredit: WALES NEWS SERVICE
Hughes battered Turner with a walking stick and suffocated him while recording the veteran’s dying words with a Dictaphone.
The man, of St Asaph, Denbighshire, was found guilty of murder and has been jailed for life.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Eleri Thomas called it a “senseless murder” after a dispute between two retired neighbours got out of control.
The pair lived in neighbouring flats in sheltered accommodation in St Asaph, North Wales.
The court heard that Hughes would bang on his wall with a walking stick to prevent Turner from sleeping.
Before moving out of the accommodation, Turner, who served in the Navy, sent Hughes a drunken voicemail saying he was “going to get” him.
The pair became embroiled in a confrontation outside the first floor flat, with Hughes ending up on top of Turner.
While suffocating Turner, Hughes recorded the moment with a dictaphone which a jury got to hear at the trial.
During the sickening three minute long recording, Turner could be heard panting heavily and begging Hughes to get off him as he could not breathe.
The recording also included the sound of Hughes striking Turner, who was unconscious, repeatedly with his walking stick.
Hughes called for an ambulance 23 minutes after the attack and unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate Turner.
A post mortem examination found that he died as a result of asphyxia and suffered blunt force trauma to his face and head.
Caernarfon Crown Court heard that Hughes called his nephew in the hours after the attack to say: “I think I may have killed someone.”
Hughes was arrested and told the police that Turner had threatened him and had “come out swinging punches”.
He denied murdering Turner but was found guilty following a trial.
Refusing to attend his sentencing hearing on Thursday, Hughes was jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years and 180 days.
DCI Thomas said: “His recording of the attack, and subsequent conversations afterwards were damning as to his guilt, and whilst Mr Turner’s family may never be able fully comprehend why this tragic incident happened, I hope we have provided them with some form of justice and closure today.”
cre: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/39626999/neighbour-suffocated-veteran-xmas-recorded-dying-words/
