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Murder Trial: Accused unleashed violent and sustained attack on victim

Sat, 04 Apr 2015

rosecutors have accused a Castletown man of unleashing a "violent, sustained attack" on a 60-year-old gardener which didn't stop until he was certain he was dead.

46-year-old Ian Anderson is standing trial for murder - the body of Ballabeg man Neil Roberts was found at Anderson's home on Queen Street in December 2013.

Under cross examination in front of the jury this week Anderson was questioned about his feelings towards Mr Roberts who he knew was having an affair with his wife.

"You'd had enough of him hadn't you? You hated him didn't you? He was ruining your life wasn't he?" Anderson was asked.

Denying this Anderson said he didn't hate Mr Roberts and would never have "wished this upon him" saying he had the capacity to forgive him and his wife for what they'd done.

Anderson claims Mr Roberts attacked him three times after being invited to the house on November 30th for a drink - however he told jurors he didn't know what caused the incident to end. 

"You don't know the answer to anything when it comes to something difficult do you Mr Anderson," the prosecutor levelled - telling him it wasn't simply that he "couldn't remember".

Suggesting he knew "exactly what the truth is" she told him, "You know you punched, kicked and stamped on Mr Roberts repeatedly causing catastrophic injuries - repeating, repeating, repeating until he was dead."

Ian Anderson denies murder. The trial continues. 

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