Kinder egg found at scene of brutal murder provided clue to reason behind killing, jurors told

Michael Craig, 31, was beaten, attacked with a hoover pole and suffered more than 30 stab injuries inside Craig Howse's one bedroom flat at Bolingbroke Street, Heaton, Newcastle, in March. He was taken to hospital where he died a short time later. Howse, 38, denies murder and is being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.

Prosecutor Simon Kealey KC has told jurors the reason for the killing remains unclear but said investigations revealed that intimate injuries on the victim's body, together with the presence of the Kinder egg could suggest there had been a fall out over drugs.

Mr Kealey said as well as the fractures, slashes and stab wounds, Mr Craig's anus was also injured and added that his death could have been over "some form of drugs dispute".

The court heard both men had had problems with drugs and Mr Kealey said: "At the scene there was a Kinder egg and that is often used to store drugs and discreet them about the body, including the anus and forceful retrieval of drugs from the anus is a potential cause of the injuries to that part of the body."

Mr Kealey KC said it was on March 5 emergency services were called to Howse's flat and the badly injured man was found. Mr Kealey said: "Mr Craig had been subject to a sustained and brutal assault. He was heavily beaten about his head and his body, with both fists and blunt object such as a hoover pole which caused fractures and multiple facial bruises.

"He suffered over 30 stab and slash injuries to his head and his face, which were inflicted with more than one weapon such as a knife or other sharp bladed weapon. That led to significant blood loss. His hands had both bruising and cuts or slashes where he had tried to defend himself."

During questioning Howse claimed Mr Craig had been heavily intoxicated from drugs, started slashing himself then attacked him. The court heard after the violence, Howse called his mother "screaming and shouting".

Mr Kealey told jurors: "He said something had happened, that Michael was there and that he, Craig Howse, had stabbed him and there was blood all over." The court heard the worried mother travelled to the scene and Mr Kealey added: "She was greeted by her son, who was covered in blood.

"The defendant said Mr Craig had called him a baby killer and a nonce and was swinging a knife in his direction. He said to his mother he had picked up a hoover attachment and, in his words, had brayed him with it and said he had stabbed him somewhere but didn't know where and said 'I'm not letting him attack me' and 'what am I meant to do'."

Howse denies murder and the trial continues.