James Hughes, 67, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years for the murder of his neighbour Harold Turner, 68, following a long-running noise dispute at Old Palace Flats in St Asaph, North Wales. The incident occurred on Christmas Day 2025, and a key piece of evidence was an audio recording from a dictaphone that Hughes wore, which he claimed was for protection.
Background of the Dispute
The court at Caernarfon Crown Court heard that Hughes and Turner lived next door in sheltered accommodation. Turner had made repeated complaints about noise from Hughes, including banging on walls and disturbances at night. On Christmas morning, Turner left a voicemail for Hughes, saying: 'I want you to f*** off, that’s what I want. I’m going to make you f*** off and I am going to get you. You’re mine, you're f***** with the wrong person. Good night, sleep tight.'
Hughes called North Wales Police twice that morning, first to report Turner banging on his door and shouting, and then to play the voicemail. Turner also left a voicemail for the community house manager at 11:03am, saying he was at his 'breaking point' and intended to hurt someone.
The Fatal Altercation
Judge Matthew Nicklin stated that the physical altercation began outside Hughes' flat, initiated by Turner. The judge said: 'I proceed on the basis Mr Turner began that physical altercation, and that is significant. The defendant did not go looking for violence that day.' During the confrontation, Hughes repeatedly beat Turner with his walking stick and sat on top of him. The dictaphone captured Turner saying: 'Get off me, I can’t breathe.' Hughes responded: 'What a f****** shame, do you want me to hurt you again? You can f****** die for all I care, I don’t give a f***.'
After the attack, Hughes returned to his flat, turned on the radio, made a hot drink, and called his nephew, saying: 'I think I may have killed someone.' When he eventually called an ambulance, he claimed Turner might have had a heart attack, saying: 'I hit him with my stick and he fell and he banged himself against the window.' A post-mortem revealed Turner died from asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the face and head.
Sentencing and Reactions
Hughes denied murder and manslaughter but was found guilty by a jury. His barrister, Gordon Cole KC, noted that Hughes had been a victim of serious crime in South Africa and was in poor health, adding that he would 'serve the remaining years of his life in prison.' Judge Nicklin described the murder as not planned but 'angry, callous and cruel,' noting that Hughes ignored Turner's pleas.
Detective Chief Inspector Eleri Thomas said: 'This was a senseless murder which was borne out of a dispute between two retired neighbours. Through his persistent, antagonistic actions, James Hughes drove Mr Turner to a confrontation at the door of his flat, and despite Mr Turner’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe, Hughes continued to sit on his chest and proceeded to strike his head with his walking stick.' She added that the recording was 'damning as to his guilt' and hoped the sentence provided some justice for Turner's family.
