The jury in the trial of a man charged with attempting to murder his father by stabbing him in the chest has been discharged. Andrew Roberts, 37, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this week, accused of trying to kill his 56-year-old father, David Roberts.
The incident took place in December last year at the victim's flat on Big Meadow Road in Woodchurch. The court heard that the two men had watched a film together before the defendant allegedly stabbed his father in the chest. Prior to the attack, Roberts was said to have kissed his father on the head and told him, "This is the last time you ever get a kiss off me."
Roberts also sent a text message to his wife 15 minutes before the stabbing, asking, "Would you stand by me if I killed Dave?" He admitted wounding with intent midway through the trial but denied attempted murder. However, on Friday afternoon, Judge Simon Medland KC discharged the jury and adjourned the case for a further hearing on Monday.
Details of the Attack
During the prosecution's opening on Tuesday, the court was told that Roberts had been staying with his father at the time. The defendant had been drinking heavily the previous evening but apologized the next morning and promised to drink less. Both men cleaned the kitchen and watched a film together. When Roberts got up from the couch, his father thought he was going to the toilet. Instead, Roberts allegedly punched him repeatedly in the head and face.
David Roberts then felt blood running down his chest and realized he had been stabbed. He locked the door to prevent the defendant from returning and called 999. He was taken to Aintree Hospital, where doctors found a 4cm stab wound to his chest and a laceration to his hand. The knife blade, smeared with blood, was recovered from the lounge floor, but the handle was never found.
Defendant's Actions After the Attack
Police spotted Roberts on Rake Lane drinking lager and carrying beer. He ran away but was later traced to an alleyway near Arrowe Park Road and arrested. He had a small cut on his neck and dried blood on his hands. CCTV showed he was no longer wearing the black hooded coat he had on when leaving the flat, and neither the coat nor the knife handle were recovered.
In a prepared statement, Roberts claimed his father was drunk and had insulted his wife. He alleged his father lunged at him and punched him, and that he responded by punching back. He denied stabbing his father, saying he left to go for a walk in slippers. He also claimed his father was paranoid and kept knives and batons for protection.
Text Messages Reveal Intent
The court heard a series of messages from Roberts' phone. The night before the attack, he told his wife, "I wanna come home or kill him" and "I'm gonna kill Dave." He also mentioned having a meat cleaver. The following morning, his wife expressed frustration at his drinking and aggression. Roberts later texted, "If you don't hear from me, I've killed him," and "I'm going to kill this Dave." At 12:30 pm, he said, "He's getting killed I swear" and "I'm going to stab him," and threatened to "choke the c***." Fifteen minutes before the stabbing, he asked his wife if she would stand by him if he killed Dave.
The case has been adjourned until Monday for a further hearing.
