A MAN who died after an altercation with his neighbour in a Flintshire flat suffered 25 separate wounds which were consistent with him being attacked by a knife.

A Mold Crown Court jury was told the extent of the injuries that were inflicted upon Andrew Hamilton who, the prosecution claims, was subjected to a “sustained and brutal” attack in which his throat was cut.

Christian Francis Williams is accused of murdering Mr Hamilton, 42, in his flat at Forresters Hall, Bagillt, where both men lived on July 18 last year.

Consultant pathologist Dr Christopher Johnson, who conducted the post-mortem examination on the deceased, outlined 25 separate incision wounds consistent with being cut by a knife.

The most serious of the injuries was a large gaping wound to the neck, but there were more than 30 other injuries, including bruises and abrasions which the medical expert said was consistent with a “blunt” impact being applied to Mr Hamilton’s body.

The wound to the neck was 15cm long and the pathologist said it could have been caused by several movements of a knife.

Dr Johnson said the carotid artery, a main blood vessel to the brain, had been completely cut, as had Mr Hamilton’s right jugular vein.

“The airways were disrupted and opened up above the Adam’s Apple and there was a severe fracture to the voicebox region.

"It had cut through the underlying tissue down to the spinal column,” said the pathologist.

Mr Hamilton also suffered an 11cm neck wound which was 4.5cm deep, a 1.5cm cut to the forehead which went down to the bone of his skull, a 3cm cut near his left ear and a stab wound to the chin.

There were also a range of wounds around the ears and on top of the scalp as well as to the trunk and abdomen, while there were stab wounds to the arms, thighs and calf region.

The other injuries to the body were caused by blunt trauma, including extensive bruising to the scalp and the deceased’s right eye socket was also damaged.

“The injuries to the neck and throat were caused by repeated use of a sharp weapon. They were typical of the use of a knife, but some were more irregular in shape and suggested the use of a broken bottle,” said Dr Johnson.

“The other injuries were caused by someone trying to fend off a sharp weapon. They were defensive injuries.”

While the pathologist said he could not estimate the degree of force involved, other injuries might have been caused by a blunt instrument such as the saucepan found in Mr Hamilton’s flat.

“He (Mr Hamilton) had been subject to a violent and blunt-forced assault around the head and there were large scalp lacerations which were likely to have been caused by a forceable blunt weapon or impact with a hard surface,” Dr Johnson said.

Toxicology tests showed Mr Hamilton had consumed alcohol and was twice the drink-drive limit, while there were traces of heroin, cocaine, methadone and cannabis in his system, but it was not necessarily the case that this was recent use.

The cause of death was given as multiple incise wounds to the head and neck.

The jury was shown the 24cm long bread knife, which was heavily bloodstained, as well as a bottle neck and the saucepan.

The pathologist said the knife could have caused Mr Hamilton’s neck injuries, while the irregular shaped wounds may have been the result of impact with the neck of a broken bottle.

Williams, 44, of Forresters Hall, High Street, Bagillt, denies murder.

He claimed in a 999 call he made from Mr Hamilton’s flat that he acted in self-defence.

When he was interviewed by DC Andy Skyner at St Asaph Custody Suite, he insisted he had “just applied pressure and rubbed” the knife onto Mr Hamilton’s neck.

He told the police officer: “I just wanted to go and get out. He was grabbing me and trying to get the knife.

"There was just a rubbing and then I realised he was hurt.

"You don’t think it’s serious and I was still thinking 'I’ve just got to go'.

“I know him and you don’t want to leave anybody hurt.”

He was asked by the detective if the knife had made contact anywhere other than with Mr Hamilton’s collar bone, but he said he “wasn’t aware” it had.

The trial continues.