Pool alcoholic Somes McFarland hit and kicked homeless man to death

A CHRONIC alcoholic murdered a fellow resident of a Pool supported housing home using his hands and feet, a court heard.

Somes McFarland, 28, of Fore Street, admitted killing but denied murdering Peter Oates, 51, Truro Crown Court was told on Monday.

Mr Oates died of a head injury following an attack during which he suffered 19 fractured ribs and brain trauma.

McFarland claimed he was drunk and had no recollection of the incident.

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The court heard how on March 24 McFarland had entered Mr Oates's room when another resident called Warren Gill arrived.

McFarland, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, first attacked Mr Gill by squeezing his throat, hitting him on the head and holding him against a wall.

He then turned on Mr Oates, threw him onto a bed and put his hand around his throat.

Prosecutor Paul Dunkels, QC, said: "When Mr Oates asked what he had done wrong McFarland put his foot on his chest and stamped on him two or three times.

"He then put both feet on Mr Oates's chest and jumped up and down, not from any height, but at least six times.

"He was still talking about respect, saying, 'I am a killer, I am a crusher'."

McFarland then left the room, leaving Mr Oates dead or dying. His body was found ten hours later.

Mr Dunkels said McFarland was angry about being ushered out of Mr Oates's room and determined he should be shown respect.

He added: "It was a sustained and determined assault using nothing more than his hands and feet which left Mr Oates with broken bones and extensive injuries to the head."

Trauma

On the second day of the trial, pathologist Amanda Jeffrey told the jury some of the minor injuries may have been caused by him stumbling into things when intoxicated but the injuries to his face, chest and neck could not be explained by falls or faints.

The neck, she said, showed a degree of blunt force trauma, mainly compression, or direct blows, punches, kicks or stamping.

"The injury to the voice box in particular would require a significant amount of force," she added.

McFarland had been living at the Coastline-owned supported accommodation for three weeks prior to the attack. The trial continues.