Axe attacker jailed for friend's manslaughter
Cleveland PoliceA man who killed his friend by repeatedly hitting him in the face with an axe in what he claimed was self-defence has been sentenced to 16 years in jail.
Callum Howe, 23, was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
Mohammed Shaan Ali Rasul, 23, was found dead in Howe's flat in Allerton Close, Hartlepool, in November last year, with a combination of facial and head injuries.
Judge Francis Laird KC said Howe had been high on a cocktail of drugs and had carried out a "frenzied and brutal attack" which his friend "did not stand a chance at surviving".
The court heard how an altercation had taken place between Howe and Rasul in the bedroom of Howe's flat on 23 November.
Police and paramedics found Rasul on the bedroom floor just after 11:15 GMT and attempted CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Emergency services had been called by neighbours after Howe was spotted jumping from the first floor flat window, and stumbling around the cul-de-sac.
Cleveland PoliceDuring the trial prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC claimed Howe was in a "drug fuelled rage" and had attacked Rasul, striking him at least 10 times in the face with an axe.
He also alleged the altercation arose due to issues around drugs, a claim Howe denied.
Defence barrister Nicholas Lumley KC told the court Howe had "fought for his life" after being attacked "by a crazed man full of cocaine with a hatchet".
Jurors took just over three hours to unanimously find Howe, of Blakelock Gardens, not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.
'He was at your mercy'
A post mortem examination concluded it was likely Rasul's injuries had compromised his airway and impaired his breathing.
Pathologist Dr Louise Mulcahy told the court he had at least 12 significant impacts to the head and face and 10 from a "heavy instrument with a sharp cutting edge" such as an axe, like one recovered from the scene.
She also said he had multiple facial and head fractures, including to his eye socket and jaw bone, and a number of teeth had been knocked out.
Sentencing Howe, Judge Francis Laird KC said he was quite sure it was he who produced the hatchet as a weapon, not Rasul, and "thereafter he was at your mercy".
"You bludgeoned him to death in what must've been a frenzied and brutal attack," he said, adding he had then "left him for dead".
"What you did went way beyond what could be considered as any form of self defence."
He said Howe had been high on a cocktail of cocaine, cannabis and pregabalin, and described the attack as "brutal and savage", saying Rasul "did not stand a chance at surviving".
In a victim impact statement, Rasul's sister described him as having "the biggest heart" and being the type of person who would help anyone without expecting anything in return.
She said the family struggled to understand how anyone could take someone else's life, especially someone who was meant to be "a lifelong friend".
"You did not just take one life, you destroyed an entire family," she said.
The family had spent what would have been Rasul's 24th birthday in court listening to the events that led to his death, she added, describing listening to Howe "lie".
She said he had a "lack of compassion" and "lack of accountability" which were "cowardice" and "not strength" and told the court his loss had left "permanent emptiness in our hearts".
Howe was sentenced to 16 years in prison, with an extended licence period of five years,subject to conditions.
The judge said he would serve at least two thirds of the custodial term before the case was referred to the parole board.
In mitigation he accepted the offence was not premeditated, Howe was "relatively young and immature" at 23 and previously of good character, and he had shown remorse for what he did.
