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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 nine-hour period of which he cannot recall anything. 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.
Earlier the judge summed up the case.
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.