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Barracks murder trial: soldier was brutally attacked, jury told Barracks murder trial: soldier was brutally attacked, jury told
(35 minutes later)
A soldier sustained a broken neck in a deadly attack by his comrade at a barracks in Shropshire, a jury has been told.A soldier sustained a broken neck in a deadly attack by his comrade at a barracks in Shropshire, a jury has been told.
At the start of his murder trial, prosecutors alleged Lance Corporal Richard Farrell, a serving soldier with The Royal Irish Regiment, “inflicted heavy blows” to fellow unit mate Corporal Geoffrey McNeill, at their base in March. At the start of his murder trial, prosecutors alleged Lance Corporal Richard Farrell, a serving soldier with the Royal Irish Regiment, “inflicted heavy blows” to his unit mate Corporal Geoffrey McNeill at their base in March.
Christopher Hotten QC, prosecuting, said 23-year-old Farrell “violently and brutally attacked” McNeill, landing blows to his head, stomach, and genitals. He added that McNeill, 32, had been killed by a significant force applied to his neck, breaking three bones, in the attack carried out between 4am and 6am on 8 March. Christopher Hotten QC, prosecuting, said 23-year-old Farrell had “violently and brutally attacked” McNeill, landing blows to his head, stomach and genitals. He added that McNeill, 32, had been killed by a significant force applied to his neck, breaking three bones, in the attack carried out between 4am and 6am on 8 March.
Setting out the prosecution case to the trial jury of four women and eight men at Birmingham crown court on Tuesday, Hotten said: “We say Cpl McNeill was murdered. He was attacked and his attacker caused his injuries unlawfully – there was no lawful excuse for the attack or the injuries inflicted. The attacker intended, at the very least, to cause Geoffrey McNeill really serious injury and he died as a result of those injuries.”Setting out the prosecution case to the trial jury of four women and eight men at Birmingham crown court on Tuesday, Hotten said: “We say Cpl McNeill was murdered. He was attacked and his attacker caused his injuries unlawfully – there was no lawful excuse for the attack or the injuries inflicted. The attacker intended, at the very least, to cause Geoffrey McNeill really serious injury and he died as a result of those injuries.”
McNeill, born in Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, was found dead in his room at Tern Hill’s Clive barracks, which is where the Crown says the crime took place. Hotten said there had been no history of ill-feeling between the men, who served within different companies in the army unit.McNeill, born in Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, was found dead in his room at Tern Hill’s Clive barracks, which is where the Crown says the crime took place. Hotten said there had been no history of ill-feeling between the men, who served within different companies in the army unit.
The jury also heard how on the previous evening, both men had been drinking separately before heading to the nearby town of Market Drayton. Hotten described an incident in the Clive and Coffyne pub, involving Farrell, which the Crown alleged happened later that evening. “At one point, Mr Farrell was told by another soldier that a girl with whom he was talking was with another man,” he said. “Mr Farrell was annoyed and complained that some soldiers were, as he put it, acting like maggots.”The jury also heard how on the previous evening, both men had been drinking separately before heading to the nearby town of Market Drayton. Hotten described an incident in the Clive and Coffyne pub, involving Farrell, which the Crown alleged happened later that evening. “At one point, Mr Farrell was told by another soldier that a girl with whom he was talking was with another man,” he said. “Mr Farrell was annoyed and complained that some soldiers were, as he put it, acting like maggots.”
Hotten told jurors they would hear testimony from fellow soldiers and examine evidence from CCTV cameras and a mobile phone.Hotten told jurors they would hear testimony from fellow soldiers and examine evidence from CCTV cameras and a mobile phone.
Farrell, who wore a dark suit and tie and close-cropped dark hair, listened from the dock as the Crown Prosecution Service presented its case. The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues.Farrell, who wore a dark suit and tie and close-cropped dark hair, listened from the dock as the Crown Prosecution Service presented its case. The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues.