A family dispute left a man with permanent brain damage after his heart stopped beating when he was assaulted by his sister’s partner.
Victim Craig Martin, 29, survived a massive cardiac arrest following the attack by Richard Hughes, 31, but has been left with life changing injuries.
Hughes has pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Martin and appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today.
The court heard he left his address in Challis Street, Birkenhead, at around 8am on Sunday, March 27, and travelled to Mr Martin’s home in Wallasey.
Hughes has accepted going into the house and punching the victim, who was asleep on a couch at the time.
But the court heard Mr Martin was born with a congenital heart defect, and suffered a cardiac arrest after the attack.
His brain suffered irreparable damage after being starved of oxygen for up to 45 minutes, leaving him unable to recognise danger and requiring constant supervision.
Mr Martin’s mum and brother desperately performed CPR before paramedics arrived to rush him to Arrowe Park Hospital, where he was eventually revived.
Hughes was due to be sentenced today but a dispute over whether the attack was premeditated has delayed proceedings.
Judge Graham Morrow, QC, ordered the case to be adjourned for a Newton hearing – when a judge hears evidence on disputed facts that could affect the severity of a sentence.
The issue revolves around Facebook messages allegedly sent by Mr Hughes in the run up to the assault.
Peter Hussey, prosecuting, said police had been unable to access Hughes’ Facebook account after he claimed he had forgotten his password.
Brendan Carville, representing Hughes, says his client admits he was aware that Mr Martin had a medical conditions, but claims he did not realise the full extent of it.
A basis of plea, signed by Hughes, said: “On the morning of the assault I went to speak to Craig but I lost control.
“I hit him once on the head and he put his arms and legs up. His mum came into the room and said stop fighting in my house, and then I woke up and stopped hitting him.
“I didn’t appreciate the extent of the injuries I had caused or I would have stopped and helped; when I left he was sitting up on the couch.”
The incident followed an argument between Hughes and his partner’s sister’s new boyfriend.
Mr Carville said his client claimed threats had been made that he would be shot, and he wanted to speak to Mr Martin to find out where the boyfriend lived.
Mr Hussey said the prosecution does not accept that Hughes went to the address simply to speak to Mr Martin, but with “intent to assault.”
A Newton hearing is due to take place before Judge Morrow on December 18. Hughes was released on bail.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/