Face of Plymouth murder attempt accused was 'absolutely evil', trial told

The face of a man accused of trying to murder his neighbour was “absolutely evil” before the alleged attack, a jury was told.

Andrew Miller, aged 44, is charged with stabbing the man in the neck and hitting him over the head with a hammer, a court heard.

Robert Brownlie was sitting in his Ernesettle flat when his neighbour smashed his way their living room window, prosecutors claim.

He repeatedly stabbed and struck the 49-year-old before barricading himself in his own flat in Lakeside Drive, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Miller allegedly laughed after telling police during a stand-off: “I tried to cut his head off”.

The complainant’s partner has told a jury that Miller’s face was “absolutely evil” during the attack.

But the couple know of no reason why the defendant would attack them out of the blue.

Miller is charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife in Lakeside Drive on July 26 last year.

He has been assessed by psychiatrists as unfit to plead and is in a psychiatric unit rather than in court, though he is represented by a barrister.

The jury is not considering whether Miller is legally guilty but rather whether he did the acts charged – attacking his neighbour with a knife and carrying a blade in the street.

Diane Neill, living with Mr Brownlie at his ground floor flat, said she saw Miller outside their living room window at about 9pm.

She added in a video interview played to the jury: “He was carrying a knife, his face was absolutely evil. He was really, really angry.”

Ms Neill said that Miller pushed his foot against the glass and then smashed his way into their flat.

She added: “He came in very quickly and started to stab Robert’s face and neck. There was blood everywhere, I was absolutely shaking. I was crying and screaming and calling for help.”

Ms Neill said that her partner tried to fend off the blows with his arms.

She cried as she described how Miller kicked her birdcage, killing her pet bird.

Ms Neill said she tried to pull her partner away as Miller aimed blows with a small kitchen knife.

She added: “He wanted to kill him. He was lucky to be alive.”

The court heard that Mr Brownlie was in fact treated at Derriford Hospital for several minor stab wounds, including to his neck and back. He was released after three hours, with sutures and Steri-Strips on his injuries.

Ms Neill said that Miller climbed back out of the window.

She added: “Miller never got on with Robert, but Robert has not done anything wrong”.

The court heard that he barricaded himself in his first-floor flat.

Dog handler PC Dan Pen-Collings said he spoke to Miller several times as the stand-off lasted hours.

He added: “He said to me: ‘I smashed his window, went in and stabbed him. I tried to cut his head off. The knife snapped, it is in here’. And then he laughed.”

Pc Pen-Collings said that police eventually forced their way into the flat and Miller jumped from a window.

He added: “I grabbed hold of him and he was later arrested”.

The court heard that a broken knife was found in Miller’s flat and a hammer was discovered behind a television set in Mr Brownlie’s home.

The prosecution case is closed and no evidence is being called on behalf of the defence.

Judge Paul Darlow is to provide legal directions tomorrow before sending out the jury.

He told the panel before the case: “The purpose of this hearing is to decide what should happen regarding the treatment of Andrew Miller and the protection of the public.

“Should his condition improve to the extent a full trial can be held, then that of course can be entertained.”

Do you have a story to share or for us to investigate?

Get in touch using  news@plymouthherald.co.uk , call  01752 293100  or tweet  @Plymouth_Live

Want to read more?

To keep up to date with Plymouth Live's latest news, follow us on Facebook  here  and Twitter  here , or visit our homepage at  www.plymouthlive.com