Defendant rejects 'vampire' claims

A teenager accused of stabbing to death an Anglesey pensioner has denied being obsessed by vampires and the quest for immortality.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, is on trial for murdering Mabel Leyshon, 90, at her bungalow in Llanfairpwll.

Forensic officers searched Mabel Leyshon's house

He is alleged to have removed her heart, drunk her blood and placed pokers in the shape of a cross at her feet - all, according to the prosecution, because he was fascinated by vampires and gaining eternal life.

On Monday, the tenth day of the trial, the teenager told the jury at Mold Crown Court that he had only "a subtle interest" in vampires and had never believed that they were real and he denied he was desperate to become immortal.

The youth said vampirism was merely science fiction and said he had only visited Dracula websites because of his "subtle interest" in the subject.

Defence barrister Robin Spencer QC asked: "What was the interest that you had in vampires and Dracula?"

Speaking confidently, he replied: "A subtle interest, not very big."

'Macabre ritual'

The prosecution alleges the teenager killed Mrs Leyshon in her north Wales home in November.

It claims he stabbed her 22 times as she sat in her chair watching television, after smashing his way inside by throwing a slate through the back door.

She put up a struggle but, after her death, her blood was drained and drunk by the killer in a macabre ritual.

The prosecution has said DNA found at the murder scene matched that of blood found on a knife at the defendant's home.

'Vampire boy drank blood'

On Monday, the teenager denied an obsession with vampires alleged by the prosecution.

The teenager said he did not remember an incident in which he allegedly asked a female German language student, who he believed was a vampire, to bite him so that he could achieve immortality.

After taking to the witness stand where he was watched by his mother, a nurse, and several other members of his family, he said he had gone back to the girl's room to discuss psychology and had smoked cannabis.

He added he could not recall police officers entering the house when the student became scared.

The teenager told the court he could only remember waking up at the police station, where he faced no charges.

'Eternal life'

It was alleged he made his nose bleed so that people could smell the blood, which was part of his quest to become a vampire and gain eternal life.

Prosecution barrister Roger Thomas QC, claimed that, during a subsequent meeting with the girl - when he apologised for the previous incident - he had wondered if, had somebody been bitten by a vampire and then killed an old person, that person would then also transform into a vampire.

The teenager denied ever referring to killing elderly people.

The defendant denies the charge and the trial continues.