Labourer harboured 'deep animosity'

Maurice Latus has admitted attacking his mother

A farm labourer accused of murdering his young friend "harboured a deep animosity" towards him, a jury has heard.

Maurice John Latus, 32, of Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury, is accused of smashing an axe over the head of Julian Sanders, 20, before decapitating him and dumping his body in a Birmingham park.

He went on trial at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, where he denied murdering Mr Sanders, a trainee welder, at an unknown place between May 26 and May 30, 2000.

The jury was told Latus had already been convicted of killing Colin Foulkes, who he shared a house with, and attempting to kill his mother Christine Artiss.

Mr Stephen Linehan, QC, prosecuting, claimed Latus "harboured a deep animosity towards Julian Sanders" because he feared he would inherit the house.

The trial, which is expected to last up to two weeks, continues.