Son murdered 'annoying' neighbour

Mr Mellin's body was found at Ystwyth Place in the Clase area of Swansea

A 22-year-old man kicked and punched a neighbour to death for annoying his father, a jury has ruled.

Darren Cullen will serve at least 15-years in jail for murdering John Mellin, 53, in May.

He had denied the charge at Swansea Crown Court and claimed he had acted in self defence but was found guilty.

His father Richard and Mr Mellin had been drinking at a flat in Clase and as Cullen walked him home he took the opportunity to beat him to death.

Cullen admitted hitting Mr Mellin but claimed it was in self defence and told the jury Mr Mellin was alive when he left him late on 24 May.

The court had heard how Cullen, his father and Mr Mellin had spent the evening at Richard Cullen's flat.

Mr Mellin became drunk and Richard Cullen asked him to leave.

It must have been a savage attack, extremely forceful with repeated kicking and stamping Judge John Diehl

Because Mr Mellin was so drunk he asked his son to see him safely to his flat elsewhere in the block.

The prosecution said Darren Cullen took advantage of being alone with Mr Mellin to punish him for annoying his father.

Sentencing him to life in prison Judge John Diehl said only Cullen knew the details of what had happened that evening and he had chosen not to tell.

"It must have been a savage attack, extremely forceful with repeated kicking and stamping," he said.

"Why you behaved that way only you know.

"You had been entrusted with seeing him home. He was never going to be a match for you.

"You have shown no remorse and were quite prepared to point the finger at others."

After the verdict the jury were told that Cullen had only been out of jail for 11 days before the murder, having served a short sentence for causing criminal damage and racially aggravated abuse.