bloodrayne
03-03-2004, 01:01 PM
Noise Dispute: Neighbour killed with 23in sword, jury hears
A 28-YEAR-OLD mechanic was stabbed to death with a 23-inch sword during a dispute about noise with his neighbour, a court heard.
The sword – which can also be used as a bayonet – was thrust through Michael Bailey's body from side to side following the confrontation in Wisbech, in June last year, Norwich Crown Court heard.
The blade penetrated between his ribs and through his chest muscles to within half a centimetre of the skin on the other side of his body.
Mr Bailey, a talented stock car racer, died almost immediately after the sword "wreaked terrible damage" to his lungs and heart, a jury heard.
His former next-door neighbour, unemployed Melvin Sullivan (45), denies murder.
Rex Tedd QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Bailey was with his girlfriend, Amy Cottrill, outside their home in Waterlees Road, Wisbech, when he was killed – shortly after returning home from a night out early on June 7.
A few days earlier, the couple had become engaged while on holiday in Spain.
Mr Tedd said, not long after they got home, they heard a loud banging from the house next door, where Sullivan and his wife, Susan Rolfe, lived.
He said it was possible that Sullivan had been irritated by the noise of the door closing when Mr Bailey and Ms Cottrill returned home.
Mr Bailey went outside to shout at Sullivan, Mr Tedd said, and Sullivan responded by leaving his house with a large sword in his hand.
Mr Tedd said that, after a brief conversation, "the defendant thrust the bayonet right through Michael Bailey's body. It went between the fifth and sixth ribs on the right side, cutting through the muscles and fat. It went through both lungs and major vessels of the heart.
"Michael Bailey never spoke again. He collapsed, and despite the best efforts of those at the scene to help him, he died almost immediately.
"Finally, he pulled the weapon back along its track and removed it."
Mr Tedd said that when police searched Sullivan's house, they found a machete, cavalry sword, Samurai sword, bayonets and large knives.
He said that Sullivan said in a statement that Mr Bailey was aggressive, and Ms Cottrill was armed with a kitchen knife.
Sullivan said he had thrust the sword after Bailey came towards him.
A 28-YEAR-OLD mechanic was stabbed to death with a 23-inch sword during a dispute about noise with his neighbour, a court heard.
The sword – which can also be used as a bayonet – was thrust through Michael Bailey's body from side to side following the confrontation in Wisbech, in June last year, Norwich Crown Court heard.
The blade penetrated between his ribs and through his chest muscles to within half a centimetre of the skin on the other side of his body.
Mr Bailey, a talented stock car racer, died almost immediately after the sword "wreaked terrible damage" to his lungs and heart, a jury heard.
His former next-door neighbour, unemployed Melvin Sullivan (45), denies murder.
Rex Tedd QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Bailey was with his girlfriend, Amy Cottrill, outside their home in Waterlees Road, Wisbech, when he was killed – shortly after returning home from a night out early on June 7.
A few days earlier, the couple had become engaged while on holiday in Spain.
Mr Tedd said, not long after they got home, they heard a loud banging from the house next door, where Sullivan and his wife, Susan Rolfe, lived.
He said it was possible that Sullivan had been irritated by the noise of the door closing when Mr Bailey and Ms Cottrill returned home.
Mr Bailey went outside to shout at Sullivan, Mr Tedd said, and Sullivan responded by leaving his house with a large sword in his hand.
Mr Tedd said that, after a brief conversation, "the defendant thrust the bayonet right through Michael Bailey's body. It went between the fifth and sixth ribs on the right side, cutting through the muscles and fat. It went through both lungs and major vessels of the heart.
"Michael Bailey never spoke again. He collapsed, and despite the best efforts of those at the scene to help him, he died almost immediately.
"Finally, he pulled the weapon back along its track and removed it."
Mr Tedd said that when police searched Sullivan's house, they found a machete, cavalry sword, Samurai sword, bayonets and large knives.
He said that Sullivan said in a statement that Mr Bailey was aggressive, and Ms Cottrill was armed with a kitchen knife.
Sullivan said he had thrust the sword after Bailey came towards him.