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Man accused of murdering brother-in-law with crossbow at Cornwall home Man accused of murdering brother-in-law with crossbow at Cornwall home
(about 2 hours later)
A man armed himself with a crossbow and fired an arrow through his brother-in-law’s chest, killing him, as the victim tussled with his estranged wife, a court has heard.A man armed himself with a crossbow and fired an arrow through his brother-in-law’s chest, killing him, as the victim tussled with his estranged wife, a court has heard.
The 38cm (15ins) arrow fired by Daniel Schofield hit Roy Hanson’s heart and a major vein before passing through his body, causing him to suffer massive blood loss.The 38cm (15ins) arrow fired by Daniel Schofield hit Roy Hanson’s heart and a major vein before passing through his body, causing him to suffer massive blood loss.
Schofield, 28, told police he only meant to frighten Hanson, 50. He claimed the crossbow went off by accident and he had acted in self-defence. He said: “I was afraid for my life. It was do or die.” Schofield, 28, told police he only meant to frighten Hanson, 50. He claimed the crossbow went off by accident and he had acted in self defence. He said: “I was afraid for my life. It was do or die.”
He denies murdering Hanson and has also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter by gross negligence.He denies murdering Hanson and has also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter by gross negligence.
Hanson, a plumber, and his wife, Julia, had separated and she went to stay with Schofield at his home near St Keverne, a village on Cornwall’s Lizard peninsula. Hanson, a plumber, and his wife, Julia, had separated and she had gone to stay with Schofield at his home near St Keverne, a village on Cornwall’s Lizard peninsula.
Last October, Hanson arrived at Schofield’s home, Truro crown court was told on Monday. He argued with his wife over some keys and they began to struggle. He then put her in a headlock and she started choking, the court heard.Last October, Hanson arrived at Schofield’s home, Truro crown court was told on Monday. He argued with his wife over some keys and they began to struggle. He then put her in a headlock and she started choking, the court heard.
Paul Dunkels QC, prosecuting, said: “The defendant saw what was going on and armed himself with this crossbow which he kept in his house. He cocked the crossbow, put an arrow in it and went outside.”Paul Dunkels QC, prosecuting, said: “The defendant saw what was going on and armed himself with this crossbow which he kept in his house. He cocked the crossbow, put an arrow in it and went outside.”
Schofield confronted Hanson and when the victim moved towards him, he fired the crossbow, Dunkels said. “The arrow entered Hanson’s chest, passing right through him and exiting from his body, causing a fatal injury. Schofield confronted Hanson and when the victim moved towards him, he fired the crossbow, Dunkels said. “The arrow entered Hanson’s chest, passing right through him and exiting from his body, causing a fatal injury. The prosecution case is that the defendant deliberately pulled the trigger of the crossbow and he is guilty of murder.
“The prosecution case is that the defendant deliberately pulled the trigger of the crossbow and he is guilty of murder.
“The defendant told police he only meant to frighten him and it went off accidentally. The prosecution say if this had been the case, he is guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.”“The defendant told police he only meant to frighten him and it went off accidentally. The prosecution say if this had been the case, he is guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.”
In a 999 call Schofield said he had acted in self-defence because Hanson was attacking his sister. In police interviews Schofield said he fetched the crossbow to frighten him and was acting in “blind fear and panic”. The jury heard Hanson had a “temper” and a “reputation for violence”. In a 999 call, Schofield said he had acted in self defence because Hanson was attacking his sister. In police interviews, Schofield said he fetched the crossbow to frighten him and was acting in “blind fear and panic”. The jury heard Hanson had a “temper” and a “reputation for violence”.
Dunkels said Schofield’s alleged actions were out of proportion with the threat from Hanson, who was unarmed. He claimed firing the crossbow would have had almost inevitable consequences and was not lawful self-defence. The trial continues. Dunkels said Schofield’s alleged actions were out of proportion with the threat from Hanson, who was unarmed. He claimed that firing the crossbow would have had almost inevitable consequences and was not lawful self defence.
Ms Hanson, an interior designer, said her 10-year marriage was sometimes happy but that her husband was verbally and sometimes physically aggressive.
She said that on their honeymoon he accused her of flirting with other guests at their hotel. She said: “It led to an argument. In the hotel room, he backhanded me in the face. He then dangled me out of a second-floor window by my neck and my legs. I threatened to leave him on our honeymoon but we resolved things.” She said that he had kicked her in the ribs on another occasion.
On the day of his death, Hanson turned up at Schofield’s home and demanded her keys to their home, business and her car, Ms Hanson told the jury. She said he snatched them from her and climbed into his van but she took his ignition keys and ran towards the house. She said her husband ran after her and grabbed her around the throat, forcing her on to her knees.
Of the moment when her husband was shot, she said: “I did not know what had happened. As he staggered I could see some blood on his T-shirt. I was confused about what had happened. I went towards him to try and help him. He collapsed.”
Earlier. the jury was shown the crossbow and the bloodstained arrow, secured in a container, which went through his body.
The jury also watched a brief clip from Schofield’s mobile phone which showed one of his friends firing the crossbow. The friend fired an arrow into a log and could not get it out again. The man, a fisherman, said the weapon could “take a seal out”.
The trial continues.