Murder accused 'killed childhood friend with axe'
CLEVELAND POLICEA man repeatedly hit his childhood friend in the face with an axe during a drug-fuelled argument, a murder trial has heard.
Callum Howe, 23, attacked Mohammed Shaan Ali Rasul, also 23, at a flat in Hartlepool on 23 November 2025, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Prosecutors said Rasul had been struck at least 10 times with an axe or hatchet
Howe, of Blakelock Gardens, Hartlepool, denies murder and claims he acted in self-defence.
Opening the trial, prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC said the defendant was living in a one-bedroom upstairs flat in Allerton Close, and had two friends, including Rasul, staying with him in the days leading up to the incident.
The jury heard the three men had been taking "a lot of drugs" and had not been sleeping.
At about 10:30 GMT on 23 November, downstairs neighbours heard a disturbance and blows being struck upstairs, the court heard.
Shortly after, Howe left through the window of the first-floor flat bedroom window while wearing only one shoe, the court heard.
CCTV shown to the jury showed Howe appearing to be "clearly very heavily influenced on drugs, picking himself off the floor, stumbling around", Makepeace said.
Neighbours called emergency services to help Howe in the street, with police subsequently finding Rasul covered in blood on the floor of the bedroom.
He was declared dead a short while later.
A Home Office pathologist concluded he died from massive facial injuries after being struck at least 10 times with the hatchet or axe recovered from the bedroom.
When interviewed by police, Howe gave "no comment" responses.
A statement prepared by his solicitor said he accepted he was responsible for his friend's injuries and death, but claimed he was acting in self-defence after being attacked.
'Thousand-yard stare'
In a recorded police interview shown to jurors, Howe's downstairs neighbour said she heard men's voices from the room above her.
One was saying "have you had enough", another "on the verge of crying" said "yeah stop" and a third said "just leave it man, come away from him", the court heard.
She said she also heard the sound of someone "wincing" in pain and what sounded like punches and bangs, before Howe jumped out of his window and fell in front of her home.
He "seemed out of it" with a "thousand-yard stare" like "he had seen a lot", the woman said, adding he had to be restrained as he was trying to attack paramedics.
She also said he looked like he had been attacked and she saw injuries on his face.
Another neighbour said she saw Howe stumbling frantically round the street, covered in blood, groaning and repeatedly shouting "help me".
A third woman who went to try and help Howe in the street said he looked "absolutely horrendous".
He was caked in blood and mud and had bulging "panda eyes", the woman said, adding he looked like he was "possessed".
He was shouting "help me" and "he's in there", the woman said, adding it was "as if he was running away from somebody".
She also saw blood on the window he had jumped out of and a trainer hanging from the opening, the court heard.
The trial continues.
