West Yorkshire factory supervisor hacked to death with more than 100 blows from samurai sword

CCTV footage, played in court today (Wednesday), showed how Robert Wilson, 53, was investigating youths hanging around outside the Thornton & Ross pharmaceutical plant in Linthwaite, Huddersfield, when he was attacked by Kiyran Earnshaw, 18, and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named, who passed a 20in sword between them.

Audio recorded from Mr Wilson’s phone call to a security firm captured the younger of the two – who was 15 at the time – shouting “get his head, I want to cut his head, Kia I want to cut his head”.

The recording, also played in court, captured the night shift supervisor’s pleas to the youths to stop their attack.

The father-of-two, from Birstall, was described as a "loving and committed husband and father" by his family.

Peter Makepeace QC, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court that Earnshaw started the attack after producing the blue sword from inside his tracksuit bottoms.

After he started raining blows on Mr Wilson, the younger teenager was heard repeatedly shouting: “Pass me the shank, pass me the shank.”

After multiple blows and kicks to Mr Wilson, Earnshaw passed the sword to the other defendant.

Mr Makepeace said: “(The boy) approaches Mr Wilson and using his right hand stabs Mr Wilson with 11 full force blows, starting at his back but moving around his head to the front, leaning in to get momentum as he does so.

“(The boy) hands the sword back to Earnshaw. Earnshaw then uses both hands to wield the sword in a chopping action as one might use an axe, five times to the left side of Mr Wilsons’s body before stabbing him three more times into the back using his right hand.”

Mr Makepeace said the pair paused at one point to catch their breath and to rifle through Mr Wilson’s pockets, taking his coat.

The prosecutor said that, after they resume the attack, “Earnshaw and (the boy) together holding the sword and crouching to the upper body then seem to make a concerted effort to saw the head from the shoulders”.

“Both then jointly stab the upper body using their combined force.”

Mr Makepeace said that, after further blows from the boy, “Earnshaw then takes the weapon and resumes an attempt to sever Mr Wilson’s head using his feet and the sword”.

“He then steps slightly away and chops at Mr Wilson’s head 15 times, wielding the sword as an axe with both hands.

“As he visibly tires, (the boy) gestures for the sword and takes hold of it. They appear to be tussling for control of the weapon.

“The audio footage at this time records (the boy) saying ‘get his head, I want to cut his head, Kia I want to cut his head’.”

Police who arrived at the scene reported seeing one of the pair “using the sword in sawing motion to the neck area of the deceased as if trying to detach the head from the body”.

Mr Makepeace said Earnshaw was Tasered twice before he was arrested and officers used an incapacitant spray on the boy.

The court heard that Mr Wilson had left the plant to talk to the youths in the car park with colleagues Paul Thewliss and John Badejo.

Mr Badejo was seriously injured as he tried to help his friend and both men were forced to flee for their lives, Mr Makepeace said.

He said: “There is no suggestion they were anything other than polite and decent in their dealings with the youths once they met up in the car park.”

Both defendants have admitted murdering Mr Wilson and causing Mr Badejo grievous bodily harm with intent.

The prosecution opening is continuing and the pair will be sentenced later on Wednesday.

Mr Makepeace said the defendants were seen taking tablets “washed down with vodka and other alcohol” as they hung around Huddersfield with friends before the incident in January.

He said that, after his arrest, Earnshaw was slurring his speech, asking why he had been arrested and complaining of police harassment.

He told officers he had taken cocaine and the tranquilliser Xanax.

Tests on drugs Earnshaw had in his possession found they were Flualprazolam – an artificial substance similar to Xanax which produces drowsiness, confusion and disinhibition.

Mr Makepeace said a post-mortem examination on Mr Wilson “confirmed at least 100 sharp force injuries to the body” concentrated in the region of the head, neck and upper body.

The prosecutor said: “There was but one injury consistent with a defensive injury and that was to the left thumb indicating Mr Wilson was unable to put up any resistance.”

The court heard that Mr Wilson was married with two grown-up children and enjoyed gardening, golf and walking in the Yorkshire Dales.

His wife Elaine told the court his death was “completely incomprehensible”, adding: “How on earth have we come to this and why?”

She said she was sickened to receive a letter from one of the defendants saying it was the “worse night of my life and ‘I’m sorry'”. She told the judge she had been shocked to “feel so much hate”.

She said to the defendants: “I want you to know you have taken the life of a much respected, admired and good man.”

Mr Badejo told the court that on-site security guards at the Thornton & Ross plant had been replaced by CCTV cameras monitored by staff.

He said: “We should not have been doing those duties. There should’ve been security.”