A man accused of attempted murder asked police “Do you know who you’re dealing with?” as they tried to arrest him, a court has heard.
Raymond Burrell is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court for attempting to murder his neighbour Matthew Sheehan at his flat in the Adamsdown area of Cardiff on September 1.
Giving evidence, Sergeant Philip Thomas said he had recorded Burrell’s comments in his pocket notebook immediately after his arrest.
He told the court he heard the defendant say: “You’ll need some witnesses and if you find any they’ll be mad. No witness is that brave. Do you know who you’re dealing with?”
'I assumed he was dead'
Police were called to 34-year-old Mr Sheehan’s flat in Adamsdown Place around 7am, following reports of a man shouting for help.
Describing what they found, PC Nerys Lloyd said: “I saw a body lying face down. It was unresponsive and I assumed it was dead. I could only describe the face as very bloody.”
PC Mark Hallett said his breathing was “very laboured” and he saw a 3cm wound above his right eyebrow.
He added: “His face was warped, very bloody and swollen. He looked up and looked straight through me.”
PC Andrew Mason said two neighbours pointed to a man outside and told him: “That’s him there, he’s the one that did it.”
The officer followed 38-year-old Burrell and said his behaviour was “extremely aggressive”.
'Angry and volatile'
He told the court: “He clenched his right fist, looked at me and said: ‘Come on then.’ He grabbed my utility vest and swung a punch at my head.”
PC Lloyd described the defendant as “extremely angry and volatile”.
She added: “He was really strong and kept throwing us about. I have never been so scared in my 10 years as a police officer. I thought he was going to have my eye out.”
The officers said they struggled with Burrell for several minutes before back-up arrived. It took five officers to get him in handcuffs and in the police van.
'You won't like this'
Burrell was arrested on suspicion of assault and two counts of assaulting a police officer and was taken to Cardiff Bay police station.
Recalling the journey in the van, PC Rowan Knight said: “He pulled his trousers down and said: ‘You don’t like that, do you? You won’t like this then.’”
The court heard he then defecated in the cell.
Burrell’s defence counsel told the court he suffered from a bowel complaint.
The defendant denies attempting to murder his neighbour. He also denies alternative allegations of causing Mr Sheehan grievous bodily harm with intent or inflicting grievous bodily harm.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/attempted-murder-accused-told-police-10987590
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