Walsall man murdered friend with heavy stone, claim

A man was bludgeoned to death with a stone weighing more than a kilo an hour after a row in the street near his Walsall home, a court heard.

Derek Law, aged 28, is alleged to have carried out the attack on his drinking friend, 33-year-old Jaghit Singh Villkhu, in Walsall in January. A jury heard he took a photograph of Mr Villkhu's injuries on his mobile phone.

This was allegedly after inflicting an initial battering, before the fatal assault.

Mr Robert Davies, prosecuting at Wolverhampton Crown Court, alleged Law had put the stone inside his sock "to allow him to swing it, to generate extra destructive power." He suggested the phone picture was taken as "a macabre memento."

The victim's head was smashed repeatedly, fracturing his skull and facial bones, the court heard. Afterwards it was alleged that Law went to his parents' house "pumped up with adrenalin" and told them "I've killed him".

Mr Davies told the court that Law was covered in blood to such an extent that his father thought he was wearing red gloves. Law dialled 999 and told the switchboard operator he was covered in blood but did not know how it got there.

He then went to a friend's house and confessed what he had done. Police arrested him there in the early hours as he tried to escape. The attack happened on rough ground known as The Summers between Villiers Street and St Anne's Road in Willenhall between 11.20 and 11.45pm on January 23.

Shortly beforehand a fight was witnessed between Mr Villkhu, of Cemetery Road, and Law's brother Carl.

Law claimed he left his friend to buy cigarettes, coming across his body later. He claimed he lifted his head on to his lap and suggested his brother carried out the killing. But Mr Davies said his story was not consistent with the type of airborne blood stains on his clothes.

Law, of Barcroft, Willenhall, denies murder.

The trial continues.

By Marion Brennan