Last updated 16:14, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

A STAB victim enjoyed sitting and sharpening knifes, according to his killer lover.

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PC David Brown, who gave evidence JON GRANGER REF: 0441927

Alcoholic Gary Bowes also claimed he had no recollection of plunging a five-inch kitchen knife into 46-year-old Paul Taylor’s heart despite admitting it to cops and an ambulance control operator.

A close friend of the victim, his former landlady Patricia Parker, told Preston Crown Court yesterday how she had warned him that Bowes could turn nasty with drink.

The Mardale Grove, Barrow, resident explained that she last spoke to Mr Taylor when she rang to wish Bowes a happy 43rd birthday at 10.30am on January 31.

Just over seven hours later her friend of 10 years was dead.

She said: “Gary sounded a little bit drunk. But I thought it was because he was happy that it was his birthday.

“I said to Paul, if you go out with Gary take it easy because you don’t want him getting too drunk because you know what he’s like if he loses his temper.”

The pair went on an afternoon bender around Barrow knocking back lager and Bacardi before Mr Taylor went home, followed a little later by the accused.

Bowes phoned 999 at 5.32pm and a recording of that call was played to the jury of seven men and five women.

He was heard drunkenly slurring as he repeatedly used abusive language demanding an ambulance be sent to his Penrith Street home, Barrow, immediately.

During the conversation Bowes said: “He’s got a knife stuck in his chest.”

The male operator asked: “How did it happen? Is he unconscious? Is he breathing?”

“Yes,” Bowes eventually replied.

The defendant then began swearing and demanding an ambulance once again.

The operator asked him how it had happened.

After a few seconds silence Bowes replied: “Err. A domestic.”

Further silence and the operator asked when it had happened.

“About 10 minutes ago,” Bowes replied.

“Is the knife still in his chest?” asked the emergency control worker.

“Yes,” said Bowes.

The operator continued: “Is he bleeding? Is blood pumping out?

The defendant added that Mr Taylor was unconscious.

“Is blood pumping out?” Repeated the operator.

“I stabbed him. I’m going down the line for it. I’m not bothered. He went for me and I stabbed him.”

Paramedic team leader James Cochran next gave evidence. He said how when they arrived at the house they couldn’t get an answer.

He said the police arrived just as Bowes opened the door and they advised him to follow them in.

Mr Cochran described to the court what he saw: “We didn’t know it was a stabbing until we got there. He was slumped down. I pulled him up by his shoulders and saw a silver-handled knife in his chest.

“I did the usual observations but there was no sign of life.”

A statement was read out to the court from the first police officer on the scene, PC Martin Labelle, by prosecuting barrister Mr Howard Bentham QC.

In it he said: “The defendant was at the door holding a mobile phone. I followed him into the house and down a hallway. I said to him, ‘is someone hurt?’ He pointed to the living room and said, ‘in there.’

“I saw a male crouched in the living room. He appeared to be kneeling with one arm on the armchair. The paramedic checked his wrist and said, ‘are you all right?’

“He then pulled him up and we saw the knife, blood on him and on the floor.

“I said to Mr Bowes ‘what happened?’ Gary Bowes replied: ‘I stabbed him.’ I was then told he was dead and I arrested Mr Bowes.

“At this point Mr Bowes dropped his mobile phone and became unsteady on his feet and had to sit on the stairs.”

PC Ross Woods was in the police van with Bowes as he was transferred to Barrow station.

He said: “When we got to the station he said ‘I stabbed him.’

“Then in the custody area he said ‘Yes, I stabbed him but I shouldn’t have done it. Yes, I stabbed him, that’s my problem. Do me for murder. How is my partner? I’ll go down the line for this.

“During the booking in at custody he also said ‘I stabbed him. He went for me so I went for him.’

“When he heard his partner had died he collapsed to the floor and I caught him.”

PC David Brown was taking notes outside the cell as Bowes removed his clothing.

He told the court: “Mr Bowes said ‘I killed him because he went for me’ ‘I have done him in and I’m going to go down’ and ‘I stabbed him. Send me down for 10, 20, 30 years, I’m not bothered.’”

The court heard that in a police interview Bowes said he remembered walking home and was merry but not drunk.

He said he went in the house and was searching for cigarettes in his leather jacket near the sofa.

He told police: “He was behind me and as I swung around I saw red. Red all over. Blood on his shirt. Then he started sinking.”

He said he had no memory of how Mr Taylor ended up like that or calling 999.

When asked about the knife he said he didn’t know where it had come from.

He added: “Paul had a habit of playing with knives and scratching things into the table. I bought him an electric knife sharpener last year and he would sit and sharpen the kitchen knives, even the broken ones.

“He had two in the living room next to him on the table next to the settee.

“He liked having knives around and playing with them.”

Bowes has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. He is expected to take the stand today to give evidence as the defence put forward their case.