Dying man Steven Bygrave named attacker when dialling 999: court
Comments |
by Julia Roberts
A dying man who was stabbed twice in the chest and struck
to the head with a hammer was able to dial 999 and name his jealous
cousin as his attacker, a court heard today.
Father-of-two Steven Bygrave repeated the allegation to
paramedics and police as they battled to save his life on the
kitchen floor at his home in Oak Road, Murston, in June last
year.
Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Bygrave, 36, was even able to
demonstrate that the knife used by 32-year-old Robert Bygrave to
wound him had a blade about 9in long.
However, his condition deteriorated rapidly and doctors were
forced to operate on his chest as he still lay on the floor.
Prosecutor Eleanor Laws said medics tried to resuscitate Mr
Bygrave for 25 minutes but he was eventually pronounced dead. He
had suffered two lacerations to his heart and two to a lung.
Within minutes of his cousin's death, Robert Bygrave was
arrested at his home in Terrace Road, Sittingbourne. He was still
wearing jogging bottoms and trainers which were stained with his
cousin's blood.
The court heard feelings had been "running high" in the build-up
to the fatal stabbing as Bygrave, described as a known
knife-carrier, had recently began dating Steven's ex-girlfriend,
Samantha Windeatt.
However, the jury of seven men and five women was told it was in
fact Bygrave who was jealous. Steven and Miss Windeatt had had a
long-term relationship and Steven regarded himself as a father to
Miss Windeatt's son. Despite their break-up the couple remained on
good terms.
Bygrave, who denies murder, told an officer following his
arrest that his life was over and he had been a fool.
The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.
Monday, March 15 2010
The KM Group does not moderate comments.
Please click here for our house rules.