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Alexander McDonald murder trial: 'He tightened power cord on mother's neck' | Alexander McDonald murder trial: 'He tightened power cord on mother's neck' |
(about 21 hours later) | |
A man accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his mother while high on drink and drugs tightened a power cord twice around her neck, a court has heard. | A man accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his mother while high on drink and drugs tightened a power cord twice around her neck, a court has heard. |
Alexander McDonald admits the manslaughter of Catherine McDonald but denies murder. | Alexander McDonald admits the manslaughter of Catherine McDonald but denies murder. |
She was stabbed with a kitchen knife, a knitting needle and scissors at their Somerset home last year. | She was stabbed with a kitchen knife, a knitting needle and scissors at their Somerset home last year. |
Mr McDonald claims to have no memory of the attack. | Mr McDonald claims to have no memory of the attack. |
Prosecuting, Simon Laws QC said the defendant's explanation that he was drunk and under the influence of drugs was not a defence to murder. | Prosecuting, Simon Laws QC said the defendant's explanation that he was drunk and under the influence of drugs was not a defence to murder. |
He asked what was intended when the power cable was coiled twice round 57-year-old Mrs McDonald's neck and pulled tight. | He asked what was intended when the power cable was coiled twice round 57-year-old Mrs McDonald's neck and pulled tight. |
Mr Laws added: "What else if you intend, to stab someone twice in the neck with a knitting needle? We say you intend to kill." | Mr Laws added: "What else if you intend, to stab someone twice in the neck with a knitting needle? We say you intend to kill." |
Mr McDonald, of Hilly Park, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, said the attack happened during a period of which he cannot recall anything. | |
Adam Vaitilingam QC, representing Mr McDonald, said it was a "frenzied and utterly brutal attack". | Adam Vaitilingam QC, representing Mr McDonald, said it was a "frenzied and utterly brutal attack". |
"Who knows what was in the mind of Alex McDonald when he did what he did? This was an act of incredible ferocity." | "Who knows what was in the mind of Alex McDonald when he did what he did? This was an act of incredible ferocity." |
He added: "Was this someone acting deliberately? Or someone acting in a way that none of us could possible understand? | He added: "Was this someone acting deliberately? Or someone acting in a way that none of us could possible understand? |
"The evidence points to someone acting with a completely disordered mind. What he did was utterly inexplicable." | "The evidence points to someone acting with a completely disordered mind. What he did was utterly inexplicable." |
He reminded the jury they had heard from an eminent psychiatrist who agreed that Mr McDonald was not aware of what he was doing at the time of the killing. | He reminded the jury they had heard from an eminent psychiatrist who agreed that Mr McDonald was not aware of what he was doing at the time of the killing. |
Mr Justice Dingemans said some aspects of the case will have disgusted the jury and they would have sympathy for the victim. | Mr Justice Dingemans said some aspects of the case will have disgusted the jury and they would have sympathy for the victim. |
But also he said the jury must put emotions aside when considering their verdict as their job was to decide intent. | But also he said the jury must put emotions aside when considering their verdict as their job was to decide intent. |
The judge is expected to send the jury out to consider its verdict on Tuesday morning. | The judge is expected to send the jury out to consider its verdict on Tuesday morning. |