Father 'killed son in chips row'

Craig Thomson died in this property

A drunk man stabbed his 29-year-old son to death after a row over chips, a murder trial has heard.

Martin Thomson, 51, returned to the Merthyr Tydfil home he shared with his son Craig and three lodgers in November and asked: "Who's pinched my chips?"

There was a confrontation between the pair before Craig Thomson was stabbed to the chest, stomach and leg, Cardiff Crown Court was told.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Thomson denies murder.

Realising his father was drunk, Craig Thomson went upstairs with his friends who were staying at the house on the Gurnos estate, said Ian Murphy QC, prosecuting.

After Martin Thomson was heard asking about his chips his son went downstairs, saying he would get some chips.

But one of his friends, Hannah Thomas, then heard the younger man swear and say he was not a "skivvy" before there was a slapping sound, Mr Murphy explained.

Martin Thomson and his son became drinkers after the death of his wife

Ms Thomas and her two friends went to investigate, and saw Craig Thomson walking up the stairs.

When he was part way up, his father was seen coming out of the kitchen with a 4in knife, and say he was going to stab his son, the jury was told.

His son replied: "Go on, dad", and tried to kick the knife out of Martin Thomson's hand as he swung the blade around, the court heard.

He missed and was stabbed in the leg, causing him to sit down, Mr Murphy said.

The court heard Craig Thomson was then stabbed to the chest, stomach and leg.

At the same time as one of the lodgers, Adam Evans, went after Martin Thomson and kicked him in a bid to retrieve the knife, Ms Thomas saw Craig Thomson get up, Mr Murphy said.

Mr Murphy said: "Craig managed to stand up and walk down the stairs.

"He shouted: "Dad, stop it", then he lifted his shirt up.

"She could see blood was gushing out of his chest."

'Lost it'

He collapsed at the foot of the stairs, at which point his father went towards him.

Mr Murphy told the court, Martin Thomson said: "Come on Craig, it will be all right. You'll be all right."

Another lodger, Sara Evans, said the older man held his son, saying: "I've killed my son."

An ambulance was called but Craig Thomson was pronounced dead at the scene.

When police arrived, Martin Thomson said: "It's my doing, it's my fault", but on the way to the police station asked officers: "He was doing my head in. I just went mad. Is he all right? Will you find out if my son's all right?".

The court heard Martin Thomson told police he "just lost it" because his son was telling him to go to bed, and that he had been upset about music coming from the lodgers' rooms.

He told officers: "I just didn't understand what I had in my hand at the time, because I had been peeling potatoes, and I don't think I realised I had a knife in my hand."

Potato peelings

Martin Thomson claimed he pushed his son three times, not realising the knife was in his hand, the court heard.

Pictures shown to the jury showed chips in a pan, and a bag containing oven chips, but no potato peelings, Mr Murphy said.

The jury heard Martin Thomson and his son became heavy drinkers after the death of his wife Stephanie from septicaemia in 1996.

Martin Thomson was approximately four times the drink drive limit at the time of the alleged attack, while his son was five times over the legal limit.

Mr Murphy described the incident as a "violent and unlawful attack carried out with deadly force and intent".

The case continues.