Care home man denies trying to kill fellow resident

A man attacked by a fellow care home resident suffered injuries similar to as if he had fallen from a "second storey window onto a hard pavement", a court has heard,

Kevin Ryan, 61, was taken to hospital last December with serious injuries including several fractures and a punctured lung.

Graham Dowling, 36, of Barkerend Road, has denied attempted murder, but admits causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Jurors at Bradford Crown Court were told both men lived at Burger Court, which is a residential care home for adults with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

Opening the case for the prosecution, barrister Gerald Hendron told the court that the defendant attacked Mr Ryan with "such ferocity" that not only did he intend to cause really serious harm "but that he intended to kill".

Mr Ryan was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where a consultant concluded the extent of his injuries were similar to those seen in "men falling out of a first or second floor window onto a hard pavement", the court was told.

Mr Hendron said the staff at the care home were not aware of any difficulties between the men before the incident on 10 December.

The barrister said Mr Dowling had come downstairs from his bedroom to have his medication and went outside for a smoke before going back upstairs.

He said the defendant then came back downstairs and told staff he had heard noises coming from Mr Ryan's room and they needed to check on him.

When staff entered his room, Mr Ryan was found lying in a pool of blood.

Mr Hendron said Mr Dowling told police who attended that he was responsible and had acted in self-defence.

The court was also told how another female resident at the care home told police that she had seen Mr Dowling going in and out of Mr Ryan's bedroom.

The prosecutor told the court: "She said that she could hear 'punchy' noises and Kev crying.

"She estimated that this went on for as long as it would take her to count to 20."

The trial continues.

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