Accused denies 'torture' attack

The alleged attack on Mr Clarke took place in Treharris Street, Cardiff

A man on trial for attempted murder told police he had no idea how his alleged victim got his injuries.

James O'Driscoll, 63, of Roath, Cardiff, is accused at Cardiff Crown Court of torturing Paul Clarke at his home in Cathays in the city.

It is alleged Mr Clarke was hit with a hammer, scalded with boiling water and threatened with castration.

Both Mr O'Driscoll and co-accused Mohammed Dakare, 18, of Butetown, also deny inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The trial heard of incident in the early hours of 30 April, 2008.

The jury heard transcripts on Monday of police interviews.

In the documents, Det Con Paul Slatter asked Mr O'Driscoll - whose wife died of cancer four years ago - how Mr Clarke came to suffer his cuts and burns and whether he was there when he suffered his injuries.

'Bloody' scene

"I don't know how it happened," replied Mr O'Driscoll. "I don't know what happened to him."

He told Det Con Slatter there was blood smeared on Mr Clarke's body and around the house but he thought he had suffered the injuries by falling down.

Mr O'Driscoll told police he spent the afternoon of 29 April in Cardiff city centre and arrived in Treharris Street, Cathays at about 2100 BST to find three men in the house - Mr Dakare, Mr Clarke and a third man who was white, bald and aged between 45 and 50 years.

He told police, it was obvious Mr Clarke was injured and said: "I could see there was blood coming from the side of his head, and it was all over him."

Det Con Slatter asked: "Did you do anything to help him?"

Mr O'Driscoll said he thought Mr Clarke had suffered the injuries falling down the stairs and assumed somebody else had called for an ambulance.

The jury then heard that he left the house and went alone to a local pub called The George returning around midnight to find Mr Dakare and Mr Clarke who was still "bleeding badly".

'Grassed out'

Prosecutor Martyn Kelly QC alleged Mr O'Driscoll and Mr Dakare systematically "tortured" Mr Clarke because he "grassed out" Christine Cox - a woman Mr O'Driscoll acted as a carer for.

The court heard allegations that the defendants dragged a bleeding Mr Clarke outside where his shouting got the attention of a neighbour, who called the police.

But Mr O'Driscoll, who was later arrested at 0540 BST that morning, said the alleged victim had in fact drunkenly run out into the street.

He explained how he and Mr Dakare tried to get him back into the house and this was how blood got onto his jumper, trousers and trainers.

The case was adjourned and is set to resume on Tuesday.