Murder accused says he can't remember fatal attack

A man accused of murdering a 69-year-old grandmother has told a court he cannot remember carrying out the fatal assault.

Dean Mears, 34, from Kinmel Bay, Conwy county, admits the manslaughter of Catherine Flynn on 24 October 2024, but denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Ms Flynn died from extensive injuries to her head, face and neck, which a pathologist described as being like those suffered in high-speed road traffic collision.

Mr Mears told Caernarfon Crown Court: "I can't give any explanation to this terrible thing I have done. I accept I've done what I have done but I had no intention to hurt anybody."

Mr Mears told the court he was arrested a day before the attack for forcing the current owner out of his former family home on Warren Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire.

Late on the evening of the 24th, Mr Mears attacked Ms Flynn while she lay in bed at her home on Cefndy Road, Rhyl, about a mile away.

A recording from a doorbell showed the assault lasted 55 seconds but Mr Mears said he did not remember going to her home and did not know her or want to hurt her.

He also denied being aware of what he was doing when he got a change of clothes shortly after the attack.

Under cross-examination, he said he knew the difference between right and wrong and good and bad.

Prosecution barrister Andrew Jones queried what Mr Mears was talking about when he told his partner shortly after the attack he "had done something really bad?"

"I have no recollection of that conversation," he replied.

Defence counsel Richard Pratt KC took Mr Mears through his history of drug use and previous convictions.

The defendant, who worked mostly as a scaffolder, said he first started using cannabis in his early teens and went on to become a user of cocaine and ketamine as well.

He has previous convictions for drug driving and possession of cocaine but none for violence or threatening violence.

In 2021, he was jailed for two years for possession with intent to supply cocaine and ketamine.

Mr Mears told the jury he was stabbed twice after his release from prison by people whom he still owed money for drugs and had to be treated in hospital and it left him "petrified".

He said his mental health deteriorated throughout the Covid pandemic and the years after and had overdosed on medication.

He said he did seek help and had four or five sessions at a centre in Rhyl.

The trial continues.