Daniel Wallace murder trial: 'Drug dealer found dead in pool of blood by his father'
A drug dealer from Great Bridge was found dead in a pool of his own blood by his father after 19 blows to the head with a bladed weapon, a court heard.
Daniel Indiga Wallace, know as Indy to friends and Dan to family, was found at his flat in Fisher Street, Tipton, on November 11 – what would have been his 25th birthday.
Mr Wallace, who was a known user and dealer of cocaine and cannabis, is believed to have been left on his living room floor with 'severe' head injuries he sustained in the brutal attack.
Sam Arnold, aged 21, is standing trial for his murder at Birmingham Crown Court.
Opening the case, prosecutor David Mason QC told the jury: "He died as a result of multiple injuries to his head.
"At 9.30am on November 11, his father decided to go to his flat and let himself in with his own key. He had been trying to contact Dan for a number of days but hadn't been able to get hold of him.
"He found his son lying dead in a pool of his own blood on the living room floor. He had been beaten and stabbed to death."
Mr Mason added that Mr Wallace and Arnold were known to each other through the dealing of drugs.
He said that Mr Wallace had sent Arnold an aggressive text message on November 7, when it is believed he was murdered, demanding money he was owed for cannabis.
Arnold, who did not have his own phone, is said to have used his girlfriend Penny Harper's mobile.
He said: " A message was found from Daniel Wallace to the defendant saying 'get the f*** round here, I need that money now'.
"The prosecution believes that message prompted the defendant to go round to Daniel Wallace's flat. He said in his police interview he owed Dan £20 for cannabis."
He was arrested on November 21, when he told police he had only been to Mr Wallace's house a couple of times, and knew him because he had bought drugs from him before.
Mr Mason added: "Some time after his arrest, he was spoken to by a 16-year-old girl from the area. She asked him what had happened. He told her to 'shut up or I'll smash your head in with a hammer, like what happened to Indy'.
"All that had been reported in the media was that Dan had suffered head injuries. How would he have known what type of head injuries?"
Arnold was arrested again on December 10 after it was reported to police that he admitted to his girlfriend's sister that he had murdered Mr Wallace.
Mr Mason said: "He told her that he went round there with three knives and a baseball bat, and came home covered in blood.
"When a police analyst checked the mobile phone of the defendant's girlfriend, which he also used, internet searches for new mobile phones, sim cards and new trainers were found just hours after the prosecution believe Daniel Wallace died.
"There were also searches for murders in the local area over the following weeks, in particular this one. Was that just simple curiosity, or was he trying to find out what the police knew?"
He added: "Given the number of blows, it is almost certain that he didn't act alone."
Mr Mason also said that the post mortem showed head injuries described as severe by a pathologist, and included 19 impacts to the head using a sharp, bladed weapon, most likely a meat cleaver or a machete.
Arnold, of Slater Street, Tipton, denies murder.
The trial continues.
