During a trial, shocking details emerged as a man was accused of murdering a convicted rapist by using a plank of wood, while staying in touch with neighbors to inquire about the victim’s condition. The victim, who had suffered internal bleeding from the assault, tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Andrew Southwood, 39, stands accused of the murder of Carl Ball, 51, who was found critically injured on the doorstep of his residence in Newport on August 19, 2022. The defendant, who was in a relationship with the victim’s sister, denies the charges.
The trial at Newport Crown Court revealed that Mr. Ball had led a troubled life, battling substance abuse and alcohol addiction. In 2001, he had been convicted of rape and child sexual abuse, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence.
In the weeks preceding his death, Mr. Ball had relocated to a flat in Duffryn’s Heron Way, where he became a target of multiple assaults. His flat had been vandalized with smashed windows and had even been set on fire on one occasion.
Addressing the jury, prosecutor Mark Cotter KC stated, “Carl Ball died on August 19, 2022, as a result of a vicious attack involving the use of a weapon. The prosecution’s case is that the person who wielded the weapon had the intention to cause severe physical harm to Mr. Ball, ultimately leading to his death. Thus, the prosecution asserts that this is a case of murder.”
- Man denies plot to get hitman to murder neighbour’s wife
- Nigel Farage says ‘no question about it’ as he claims Reform is a ‘serious contender’ at Senedd election
- Police appeal for help in search for missing 72-year-old
- Keir Starmer declines to say struggling Welsh NHS is ‘broken’
- ‘Dangerous’ far-right teenager’s brutal assault on transgender girl in park
Cotter clarified that the prosecution did not possess information regarding whether the motive behind the fatal attack was related to Mr. Ball’s criminal past. However, in a murder case, establishing the motive is not a requirement for the prosecution. Their objective is to prove the identity of the perpetrator.
On the day of his death, Mr. Ball had received a suspended prison sentence for carrying a blade and had appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court. Later, he was assaulted by a man named Otis Jeffries in an incident that was filmed, but this assault did not contribute to Mr. Ball’s death.
Following the assault, Mr. Ball contacted the police and was attended to by two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). Although he was driven back to his home, he was last seen conversing with an individual in a white car outside a neighbor’s house named Billy Williams.
Cotter revealed, “Approximately ten minutes after the interaction between Mr. Ball and the man in the white car, Mr. Ball was brutally beaten to death.” During the attack, Mr. Ball managed to call the police, who could hear the sounds of heavy blows and Mr. Ball’s cries of pain.
Upon arrival at the scene, the police found Mr. Ball “gaunt, pale, and struggling to breathe.” Medical examinations later indicated that he was slowly dying due to extensive internal bleeding from torn muscle tissue and a spleen that had suffered multiple ruptures.
Cotter explained, “It took several hours for Mr. Ball to succumb to his injuries. The massive internal blood loss eventually reached a critical point, causing his heart to stop beating.”
In his dying moments, Mr. Ball disclosed to the officers that “Southwood” was responsible for the attack. He specifically stated, “They attacked me. They hit me with a stick. With a plank of wood… Southwood did it,” emphasizing the use of a large plank of wood. He also identified “Andrew Southwood” as the perpetrator to his sister, Michelle, who arrived at the scene.
An air ambulance was dispatched, but Mr. Ball’s condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of emergency services personnel performing CPR, Mr. Ball was pronounced dead at 8:29 pm.