A “vulnerable” man was attacked and left for dead after complaining about a neighbour’s barking dog, a court has been told.
Matthew Sheehan, 34, who walked with crutches, was found in a pool of blood in his flat at Adamscroft Place, Adamsdown, Cardiff on September 1 last year, said prosecuting counsel Michael Jones.
“Today, six months later he has still failed to fully regain consciousness and remains an in-patient at the University Hospital of wales, being attended by medical professionals,” he told 12 jurors at Cardiff Crown Court.
In the dock is Raymond Burrell, 38, also of Adamsdown who denies attempting to murder his neighbour.
He also denies alternative allegations of causing Mr Sheehan grievous bodily harm with intent or inflicting grievous bodily harm on him.
'Brutal and merciless'
It is claimed Mr Sheehan had been known to shout “shut up” at barking dogs living across the street and might even have knocked on a door to complain.
Mr Jones said close neighbours heard the attack on him at 7am on September 1 and that he was assaulted now just once but twice when his assailant walked away, only to return.
“It was deliberate, brutal, repeated and merciless,” Mr Jones told the court.
“He (Burrell) intended to and did leave Mr Sheehan for dead.”
'Thudding sounds'
Witnesses described “thudding” sounds and noises of a person being “pulled around” followed by shouts of “help” then “muffled gasping” coming from the flat of Matthew Sheehan.
Partners Adam Phillips and Joseph Knight, who live in the flat above Mr Sheehan said they woke to the sound of banging on the door downstairs coming through their open window.
“It was like the door was being kicked in then there was shoving like someone being pulled around, “ Mr Phillips told the court.
“Matthew shouted for help once or twice and shouted ‘get off me’.
“I dialled 999 and saw a man walk off up the street - but a couple of minutes later he came straight back.”
Second attack
The student and former carer was still on the phone to the emergency services when, he said: “The man attacked again.”
He added: “There was more swearing and throwing and thudding.”
He and Mr Knight went after the man who walked away a second time.
They then found Mr Sheehan’s door closed and shouted through the letterbox but got no reply.
Minutes later police arrived and kicked the door open, revealing the injured man lying face down in a bloodied hallway.
The witnesses then saw Burrell walking past again.
'Put up a fight'
Mr Knight told the court: “I told police he was the one I’d seen and they ran after him.
“He wasn’t running but he didn’t go peacefully. He put up a bit of a fight.”
Mr Jones told jurors that Burrell refused to stop and was sprayed with CS gas.
In the police van he told officers they had the wrong person before allegedly baring his bottom to them and “deliberately defecating”.
“He said that was how you get rid of evidence,” Mr Jones said.
“Forensic officers found his trainers had faeces on them and also blood which matched Mr Sheehan’s.”
Burrell was said to have refused to answer police questions but later - in his defence statement - claimed he had been acting in self defence.
He also said he suffered with “piles” and could not control his bowel movements.
The case continues.
