Posted on 01/31/2002 1:40:25 AM PST by Arkle
A FIREMAN was stabbed to death by a neighbour during a dispute over children playing football at the side of a house, a court was told yesterday.
Andy Campbell, 40, died from a single wound to the heart from a kitchen knife pushed through a half-open door by Thomas Richardson.
Richardson told police that he, his wife and their two children had been driven mad by the constant thudding of a football against the gable end of their home in Selby, North Yorks.
York Crown Court was told that he had asked the youngsters involved to stop "countless times" and had been met with abuse.
His wife, Susan Richardson, told the jury: "Day in, day out and year in and year out there was a constant thud, thud, thud of a football hitting the wall.
"It went on into the night and we had become the goal posts for every Tom, Dick or Harry.
"Each time we complained the children replied with foul and abusive language and sang out, 'We shall not be moved'. The overall effect of the thumping football was to ruin our marriage. We are still married - just - legally."
Graham Hyland QC, prosecuting, said police were called following a confrontation with youngsters after the Richardsons returned from a Sunday afternoon out last August.
Later, as Richardson, 43, who works in the building trade, was walking his dog, he told noisy youngsters: "I have had enough of the kids around here."
Mr Hyland said: "There was an unseemly shouting match which resulted in the accused saying to Mr Campbell's daughter, Anna, 'Get your Dad'."
Anna's mother, Deborah, telephoned relatives, including her son from a previous marriage, James Collins, and he and others went to the Richardsons' house.
Mr Hyland said: "The defendant knew he had overstepped the mark by saying what he did to Anna. Jimmy Collins decided to take up the cudgel and was in an angry mood.
"Jimmy Collins was thumping the door and by this time Andy Campbell had become aware.
"He was concerned so he made his way to try to calm things down. That he became the victim makes it all the more tragic."
Mr Hyland said: "At some stage an arm lunged forward through the gap in the door which had been partly opened.
"Richardson had a knife in his hand and as he lunged, unhappily it went straight into the heart of Mr Campbell.
"There was only a single wound, but it caused massive internal damage. He was unable to avoid it, nor did he get any warning."
Richardson, who had been alone in the house with his daughter while his wife was at work, told police he felt threatened.
He said he had struggled to hold the door against the men as they shouted "Let's get him" or "Kill the bastard" and, in fear, thrust the knife three or four times through the gap they had managed to make. He asked officers what else he could have done.
Richardson denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.
The hearing continues.
You are correct of course, but from this story at least, it does sound like 'mob action'.
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