Man killed in series of brutal attacks, court hears

[Matthew]

09 March 2009 18:11

A man was killed after suffering 87 injuries in a series of brutal attacks in his home, a court heard.

41-year-old Stuart Middleton, of Paragon Place, off Earlham Road, was punched, kicked and cut with a knife by construction worker Gordon Hilditch, also from Paragon Place, Norwich Crown Court was told.

Hilditch, 33, denies murdering Mr Middleton, who had moved into the council-run estate only a few weeks before his death on July 6 last year and was trying to settle into a new life there.

The court heard that Hilditch, who rented a room at one of the flats in the estate, had become obsessed with Mr Middleton, believing him to be living in the ground-floor flat illegally and to be taking drugs.

During the crown's opening of the case, the court was told that Hilditch had previously (gone) into the flat on June 26 looking for clues about Mr Middleton.

Then on Friday, July 4, he walked into his neighbour's flat brandishing a Samurai sword asking for more information about the tenant and attacking Mr Middleton and two of his friends.

John Farmer, prosecuting, said over the course of Sunday, July 6, Hilditch, a heavy drinker, launched a series of attacks on Mr Middleton, causing his death.

Mr Farmer said: "Hilditch threatened to burn him. Neighbours heard Mr Middleton shout out 'I'm really frightened, I think he's going to kill me' at 9.30pm on the Sunday.

"At 11.30pm the defendant was at his door, dripping with blood, drunk and in a rage."

Mr Farmer said Mr Middleton had died as a result of multiple wounds, with a major internal injury from a kick to the stomach.

The court heard that Hilditch, who was four times over the legal alcohol driving limit when arrested, also pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm to Darren Peacher, a friend of Mr Middleton's.

Hilditch is alleged to have gone into Mr Middleton's house on Friday, July 4, with a Samurai sword, demanding one of Mr Middleton's friends known as Trig, strip off his clothes and that Mr Middleton and Mr Peacher empty their pockets.

Hilditch is accused of using the large Samurai sword and hard leather sheath to attack Mr Peacher, causing cuts to his chin and back of the neck where he claims the defendant held the blade.

When cross-examined by the defence barrister, Graham Parkins QC, Mr Peacher said Hilditch did calm down when Mr Middleton showed him his Norwich City Council rental card, proving he was an official tenant, not a squatter.

The case continues.

Source (http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk)

Picture Attached: Gordon Hilditch

[caerleon]

I can’t believe this psychotic brute got off so lightly. He was my neighbour before and he has a very bad history for being a vicious thug. He is very dangerous and unpredictable. He beat his ex girlfriend so badly she left the country and went into hiding. He gets great excitement from terrorising people and take it from me given half the chance he will kill again. I’m just lucky he is in your country and not mine

[Beth]

update today from bbc news site:


A man who killed his neighbour in a drunken rage over a missing mountain bike has been jailed for manslaughter.
Gordon Hilditch, of Paragon Place, Norwich, beat Stuart Middleton to death after returning home on 6 July 2008.
Hilditch, 32, received an indeterminate sentence at Norwich Crown Court, and was ordered to serve at least six years before being considered for parole.

Mr Middleton's family said they were sickened that Hilditch - who denied the attack - was not convicted of murder.
The victim, who was assaulted at his flat close to Hilditch's home, was found to have four fatal fractures, three broken ribs, major bleeding in his abdomen and a head injury.

'Monstrous attack'
Judge Peter Jacobs said that he considered Hilditch was a danger to the public and he would not be released until the parole board decided he was no longer a risk.
Judge Jacobs told Hilditch: "You gave him a considerable beating and said you were going to finish him once and for all."
Hilditch dialled 999 after the killing and said his "friend" was dead, the court had heard.

He told police he had found the body and suggested that someone else had killed Mr Middleton.
Mr Middleton's family said in a statement: "Hilditch carried out a monstrous attack on Stuart and should be locked up where he cannot harm another person."

Following Hilditch's manslaughter conviction last week - he was cleared of murder - the police who investigated the killing also said they were disappointed with the verdict.