Plymouth murder bid accused told police 'I tried to cut his head off'

A man stabbed a neighbour in the neck with a knife and hit him with a hammer after smashing through the window of his home, a court heard.

A jury heard that Andrew Miller, aged 44, later told police: “I tried to cut his head off. Is he dead yet?”

Neighbour Robert Brownlie told the court he was left terrified and covered in blood after Miller burst into his living room while he was watching television.

Plymouth Crown Court heard that the 49-year-old suffered minor injuries during the incident in Ernesettle last summer.

Mr Brownlie also said that Miller kicked a cage containing a bird, killing the pet.

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.

Opening the hearing for the Crown Prosecution Service, barrister Emily Cook said: “On July 26 last year, Robert Brownlie was in his flat when Andrew Miller smashed his way in and stabbed him multiple times.”

She said that Mr Brownlie and his partner lived in a ground floor flat in the same block as Mr Miller, who lived on the first floor, in Lakeside Drive.

Miss Cook added: “Mr Brownlie was at home at 9pm when suddenly without warning their neighbour appeared outside the window and smashed his way in through the window using a hammer.

“Once inside the flat, Andrew Miller attacked him. He hit him with a hammer and stabbed him with a knife. Mr Brownlie suffered multiple stab wounds and bruising and swelling.”

She added that during the attack Miller said: “I am going to kill you, Robert”.

Miss Cook said Miller climbed out of the window and returned to his own flat.

She added that he barricaded himself in.

The barrister added: “He told a police officer: 'I tried to cut his head off but the knife snapped. Is he dead yet?'.”

Mr Brownlie told the jury on a video shown in court he was watching television when Miller burst in.

He said: “It was terrifying.”

Mr Brownlie added he was left covered in blood.

Asked in his police interview why he was attacked, he said: “He did not like me, I do not know what I have done wrong.”

The trial continues.

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