A father told a 999 call handler that his son was a 'f****** crazy b******' after being stabbed and left with blood 'spurting out of his chest', a court has heard. Andrew Roberts, 37, allegedly kissed his father David Roberts on the head before knifing him in the chest at a flat in Woodchurch, Wirral, on December 16 last year.
Incident details
Gerry Baxter, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said the defendant had been staying with his father and had drunk heavily the previous evening. After apologising and promising not to drink so much, the pair cleaned the kitchen and watched a film. When Roberts got up from the couch, his father thought he was going to the toilet. Instead, Roberts punched him repeatedly to the back of the head and face. David Roberts felt blood running down his chest and realised he had been stabbed. The defendant fled, and the father locked the door and called 999.
Injuries and evidence
Mr Roberts was taken to Aintree Hospital with a 4cm stab wound to the right side of his chest and a laceration to his left hand. A knife blade smeared with blood was recovered from the lounge floor. The court heard that prior to the attack, Roberts had visited the toilet and upon returning, kissed his father on the head and said: 'This is the last time you ever get a kiss off me.'
Arrest and messages
Police spotted Roberts on Rake Lane drinking lager and carrying beer. He fled but was arrested in an alleyway. CCTV showed he no longer had his black hooded coat. In a prepared statement, Roberts claimed his father was drunk and aggressive, and that he acted in self-defence. However, text messages revealed Roberts had told his wife: 'I wanna come home or kill him' and 'I'm gonna kill Dave.' On the day of the stabbing, he texted: 'If you don't hear from me, I've killed him' and 'I'm going to stab him.'
999 call
The jury heard a recording of the 999 call in which David Roberts said: 'My son just got up and stabbed me in the neck. I'm bleeding everywhere. I'm gonna pass out. He's bolted out the door. He's stabbed me in the bloody chest as well.' He added: 'F****** blood's going everywhere. F****** crazy b******. Can you send the police as well? This is an emergency.'
Roberts, of Woodward Road, Rock Ferry, denies attempted murder and wounding with intent. The trial continues before Judge Simon Medland KC.
