James Hughes, 67, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years for the murder of his neighbour, Harry Turner, 68, following a long-running noise dispute at a sheltered accommodation block in St Asaph, north Wales. The entire altercation was captured on Hughes' Dictaphone, which became a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's case.
Background of the Dispute
Hughes and Turner were neighbours at The Old Palace Flats in St Asaph, and their animosity had simmered for some time. Turner had made several noise complaints about Hughes, including banging on walls and rails and disturbances at night. On Christmas Eve and into Christmas morning, Turner was angry and distressed, leaving a threatening voicemail for Hughes at 5:15 am on Christmas Day.
Judge Nicklin, sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court on July 2, described the voicemail: "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." Further evidence showed Turner using abusive and threatening language, threatening to knock Hughes out.
The Incident on Christmas Morning
Hughes called North Wales Police twice that morning—at 8:47 am and 9:04 am—reporting Turner's banging and shouting. At 11:03 am, Turner left a voicemail for the community house manager saying he was at breaking point and would hurt somebody. Later that morning, a physical altercation occurred outside Hughes' flat.
The judge noted that Turner likely began the physical altercation, but the jury found that Hughes used unreasonable force. The Dictaphone recording captured Turner saying, "Get off me, I can't breathe," to which Hughes replied, "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***." Hughes refused to get off Turner.
Aftermath and Sentencing
After the incident, 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." He later called for an ambulance, claiming Turner might have had a heart attack, and said he hit Turner with his stick. A post-mortem examination revealed Turner died from asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the face and head.
In mitigation, Gordon Cole KC said Hughes had been a victim of serious crime in South Africa and was in poor health, and that he would likely serve the rest of his life in prison. Judge Nicklin sentenced Hughes to life with a minimum of 13 years, deducting 185 days spent on remand. The judge described Hughes' response as "angry, callous and cruel."
Police Statement
Detective Chief Inspector Eleri Thomas of North Wales Police 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. His recording of the attack and subsequent conversations afterwards were damning as to his guilt."
