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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower & Mark Naylor

Killer left man dying on sofa after attack and took his phone so he couldn't get help

A remorseless killer left a man to die on his sofa after a vicious attack, before stealing his phone so he could not call for help.

Neville Morrison, 53, died of “catastrophic” internal bleeding after being punched three times in the face and once in the spleen.

Hull Crown Court heard James Hayman, 38, had arrived at the home seeking revenge on his victim for an incident involving a woman which happened when Mr Morrison had taken drugs.

He was found dead the next morning, Hull Live reported.

Hayman admitted manslaughter after he and original co-defendant Anthony Finnigan, 50, were previously accused of murdering Mr Morrison on March 5.

James Hayman was jailed for ten years for manslaughter (Facebook)

The lesser charge was accepted by the prosecution and the case against Finnigan was dropped.

Richard Thyne KC, prosecuting, said: “His (Mr Morrison’s) flat would be visited day and night by many other drug users to purchase and abuse drugs and alcohol.”

During an incident at his home, four people were there and a woman was sitting next to Mr Morrison on the sofa.

Mr Thyne added: "He was sitting close to her in such a way that made her feel uncomfortable, as he passed her a pipe of crack cocaine, he leaned over and put his head down into her lap, the left side of his face towards her upper thigh.

“She jumped up in shock."

The prosecution explained there was an argument, after which Hayman hit him, stole his phone and left.

During the early hours the flat was burgled and the body was found the next day.

The court heard Hayman told a man during a telephone call on the evening of March 5: "I t****ed Nev cos he's been slimy with my bird."

On the morning of March 6, he appeared as "white as a ghost" and was acting out of character.

A man asked him what the matter was and he said: "I've killed Nev. I killed him last night. “He's dead in his flat."

Hayman was arrested on March 7 but denied murdering or assaulting Mr Morrison or causing any injury to him.

Mr Morrison had suffered a hard blow to his abdomen from punches or kicks, causing a deep laceration to his spleen, leading to serious and "catastrophic" bleeding into his abdomen.

Mr Morrison's daughter, Parris Morrison, said he was "much loved", although he could be distant at times and they all felt like a part of them had been taken away.

She said: “He did not deserve to be attacked and left to die in his own home.

“This should be a place of safety and sanctuary. The person who did this will never be forgiven."

Richard Wright, mitigating, added: “The defendant had not gone there seeking violence," said Mr Wright.

"It was not his intention to attack Mr Morrison when he entered his home. It was an event that developed spontaneously. He went too far and for too long.

“The consequences could not have been more severe.”

"He had a reputation for a hard punch and that's something he would have known.

"Although they must have been hard punches, this is a case of a handful of hard punches, which had the effect of causing a rupture. This is one blow to the abdomen.

"He is genuinely sorry and remorseful for what he did. He has been in prison for some time now and he is rid of the drug addiction that he was in the grip of at the time."

Jailing Hayman for ten years, judge John Thackray told Hayman: “There were far better ways of resolving the situation which had arisen but you adopted and continued with the clear pattern of behaviour which you have adopted throughout your life, namely using extreme violence in order to solve perceived problems.

“It is only good fortune which has prevented you causing death on a previous occasion. On this occasion, you have caused a lifetime of heartache to the deceased's family and friends.

"No sentence I impose can bring Neville Morrison back. No sentence I impose can undo what you have done."

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