Blood and hair were on friend’s shoe, court told

A STROKE victim died after his head was stamped on in a “savage and vicious” attack, a court heard.

Disabled Robert Young, 53, was found unconscious in his home with blood spattered over the walls.

Mr Young’s blood and hair were found on the shoe of his friend Richard Thomas, 36, who denies murder.

The jury was warned to prepare themselves before being shown photos of Mr Young’s battered face and head.

Prosecutor David Elias said: “Mr Young had a stroke and did not have full use of his right leg and arm.

“Thomas and his girlfriend called to see him on the day of the attack and they were drinking together.

“Precisely what happened next may never be known.

“But Mr Young suffered a serious brain injury when he was subjected to a savage and vicious assault.”

Thomas had “no psychological issues” when he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent in 2014.

But after Mr Young died from his injuries in June 2015 his attacker now claims he was suffering from “an abnormality of mental function”.

Mr Elias said: “The prosecution say that although affected by alcohol and drugs, the defendant formed the intent to cause Robert Young serious injury.

“He did that and is guilty of Mr Young’s murder.”

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Mr Young was able to look after himself after suffering a stroke at the age of 41.

He lived in a housing association bungalow in Treharris where he began to drink heavily with friends.

Mr Elias said: “His sister would often have to throw them out.

“She took him to the train station on February 14, 2014, telling her he was going to Pontypridd.

“But he returned to his house at 5pm and was joined by Thomas and his girlfriend.”

The court heard a 999 call was made three hours later and paramedics arrived to find Mr Young unconscious on the floor with Thomas on a nearby settee.

Mr Elias said: “One of the paramedics suspected he had taken opiates and gave him a drug to bring him round.

“Mr Young was still being treated on his floor when Thomas said: ‘He’s always falling over, it must have been that.’”

But the court heard Thomas’ knuckles were bloody and bruised from the assault.

Forensic scientist Michael Wheelhouse found the bottom of Thomas’ trouser legs covered in Mr Young’s blood.

More blood was found on a doorframe where Thomas, of Fir Tree Drive, Treharris, had assaulted Mr Young as he lay on the floor, the court heard.

Mr Elias said: “He kicked or stamped into Robert Young’s head when he was already bleeding.”

The court heard Mr Young was put on a life support system at the University Hospital of Wales and had to be fed through a tube directly into his stomach. His family took the decision that he should not be resuscitated because he would “rather die than carry on”.

Mr Elias told the jury: “He gradually deteriorated and died on June 11, 2015.

“He never recovered from the brain injury which played a significant part in his death.”

The trial continues.