A man described his son as a “f****** crazy b******” during a 999 call after he was allegedly stabbed in the chest moments after being kissed on the head, a court has heard.
Details of the Incident
Liverpool Crown Court was told that Andrew Roberts had been watching a film with his father, David Roberts, before allegedly standing up and stabbing him, causing blood to “spurt” from the wound, according to the Echo. Prosecutors said the incident unfolded shortly after the 37‑year‑old kissed his father and told him: “This is the last time you ever get a kiss off me”. Now, Roberts stands trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of attempted murder.
Jurors were told that Roberts had been staying with his father at his one‑bedroom flat on Big Meadow Road in Woodchurch, Wirral, at the time of the incident on December 16 last year. A panel of four men and eight women heard that he had been drinking heavily the previous evening but apologised the next morning before the pair later sat down to watch a film together.
Prosecution's Account
Gerry Baxter, prosecuting, described the attack: "When the defendant got up from a couch, his father thought that he was going to the toilet. In fact, the defendant walked behind his father and started to punch him to the back of his head and both sides of his face. Then, David Roberts felt blood running down his chest. He realised that something more serious had happened. He put his hands up to defend himself. He looked down and saw blood, and realised that, in fact, he had been stabbed."
The defendant ran out of the flat. David Roberts locked the door to prevent his return and went to the bathroom, finding a wound to the front of his chest that was bleeding profusely. He also had wounds to his hands, inflicted while defending himself. Mr Roberts called 999 and was taken via ambulance to Aintree Hospital, where doctors found a 4cm stab wound to the right side of his chest and a laceration to his left hand. The blade of the knife allegedly used was "smeared" with his blood, jurors were told, and was recovered without its handle in the lounge.
Background and Messages
Mr Baxter added: "He says that the defendant did not go to the kitchen to get the knife, and it was, therefore, already on him when he stood up and attacked Mr Roberts. David Roberts later remembered that, at some point before the attack, the defendant had paid a visit to the toilet. When he came back into the room, he stopped next to his father. The defendant leant over to him, kissed him on the head and said words to the effect of 'this is the last time you ever get a kiss off me'."
Roberts, of Woodward Road in Rock Ferry, was found by officers drinking a can of lager, attempting to flee with a case of beer when he spotted them. He was later tracked down in an alleyway near shops on Arrowe Park Road and arrested. He had a "small cut" to the back of his neck and dried blood on his hand. Roberts later gave a prepared statement alleging his father was drunk and "carrying on, calling his wife a slag and a jumped up, mouthy b****" prior to the incident. He claimed the 56-year-old was "lunging towards him" and punching him during a "scuffle".
Messages recovered from his phone were read to jurors, including texts to his wife the night before: "I wanna come home or kill him" and "I'm gonna kill Dave". He added: "I want to get nicked. Got a meat cleaver, so I'm safe," at around 11:30pm. The next morning, his partner told him "after the carry on, I'm done" and "you've drank again and became aggressive". He replied at 11:20am: "if you don't hear from me, I've killed him" and at 12:12pm: "I'm going to kill this Dave."
999 Call
An audio recording of the 999 call was played in court, where Mr Roberts told the call handler: "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 reported blood "spurting out of his chest" and added: "F****** blood's going everywhere. F****** crazy b******. Can you send the police as well? This is an emergency. He was staying at mine for a bit. I was helping him out. He was homeless. And this is what he does. There's blood p***ing out of me mate. I dunno where else he's stabbed me."
Roberts, represented by Brendan Carville, denies attempted murder and wounding with intent. The trial continues at Liverpool Crown Court.
