A youth accused of stabbing his ‘uncle’ to death w

A youth accused of stabbing his ‘uncle’ to death with a
screwdriver today (Monday) sat with his head bowed in the Old Bailey
dock as the alleged murder was outlined to the jury.

Unemployed Jonathan McCarthy, 19, was barely visible as he sat
hunched in the dock during the Crown’s opening speech to the jury.

Prosecutor Mr John Boal QC said McCarthy stabbed to death
victim Terry Hulme, 46, with a screwdriver at the flat
in Peabody Buildings, Pear Tree Court, Clerkenwell, on the morning
of Saturday, April 18, this year.

After stabbing Mr Hulme in the heart, McCarthy – agitated and
distressed – raised the alarm with neighbours saying the victim had
‘accidentally fallen on to a screwdriver’, said Mr Boal.

An ambulance crew raced to the scene and tried to revive Mr
Hulme, a kitchen porter, but the man was ‘almost dead or dead’ by the
time he was taken to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, said counsel.

McCarthy, who had lived with the Mr Hulme for two years, told
neighbours he was the victim’s nephew.

He told police Mr Hulme had fallen on to the screwdriver
during a violent row, the jury heard.

‘It was an accident,’ he said.

‘He had his hands around my neck.

I couldn’t breathe.

‘I picked up a screwdriver.

I didn’t mean to stab him.

‘He moved around and it went into him.

‘
McCarthy, crying uncontrollably, also said: ‘I ain’t gay.

But we had a lot of fun together.

‘
McCarthy denies murder.

The trial continues.

ends.