A man has been found guilty of brutally murdering his own brother in a frenzied hammer attack inside their family home, a killing sparked by a trivial argument over a television remote.
Paul Smith, 48, was convicted of murdering his older brother, Shaun Smith, 55, following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The court heard how a petty dispute over a TV remote escalated into unimaginable violence on the evening of October 14th, 2023.
A Dispute Turned Deadly
The tragic event unfolded at the family residence on Thatto Heath Road in St Helens, Merseyside. What began as a minor squabble quickly spiralled out of control, culminating in Paul Smith arming himself with a hammer and launching a sustained and vicious assault on his defenceless brother.
Emergency services were called to the grisly scene but despite their efforts, Shaun Smith was pronounced dead. He had suffered catastrophic injuries from the relentless attack.
A Failed Defence
During the trial, Paul Smith admitted to the killing but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming a loss of control. The prosecution, however, successfully argued for a murder conviction, convincing the jury that his actions were those of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
"This was a ferocious and sustained attack with a weapon on a vulnerable man who had no chance to defend himself," a court source stated. The jury rejected the defence's argument, deliberating for less than three hours before delivering a unanimous murder verdict.
A Family Shattered
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community in St Helens, described as a "true family tragedy" by investigating officers from Merseyside Police. The brothers lived together, and their senseless violent altercation has left a family devastated and a community in mourning.
Paul Smith now faces a mandatory life sentence, with a sentencing hearing scheduled to determine the minimum term he must serve before being considered for parole. He was remanded into custody to await his fate.
