Leeds tower-block murder accused admits attacking amputee pal with his false leg
Man says has “glimpses” of recollection into the hours before friend died
A drug addict has admitted attacking his friend with his own false leg, but denies murdering him.
Scott Silkstone is on trial at Leeds Crown Court for the killing of amputee Dwayne Tuohey in a flat on Gargrave Court in Burmantofts in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The Crown say that he was fatally beaten in his own flat and struck by objects, receiving multiple injuries.
Silkstone, 51, maintains he could not remember the events of that night, despite CCTV footage showing him dragging the lifeless body of Mr Tuohey from the lift and through the entrance and onto the pavement outside.
He was seen to stop several times and punch and stamp on Mr Tuohey. He then left his body outside the front door, removed his trousers and walked away. He went to a nearby shop and bought a milkshake before being arrested.
But while giving evidence during the second week of his trial, he admitted he has now has “glimpses” of recollection from that night and remembers striking 55-year-old Mr Tuohey to the head with the prosthetic limb.
He said they then sat and smoked drugs as they always did, and then “phoned someone to get some more”.
He said: “He was my friend and will always be my friend.”
Asked by prosecutor Michelle Colborne KC if he had caused all the injuries he replied: “No I did not cause all those injuries.”
Fighting back tears, he added: “That kid will always be in my heart. I loved him. It’s been a tragic, tragic accident.”
He also said at one point he had gone to get cigarettes and came back to find Mr Tuohey lying in the hallway, but could little explanation as to why.
Silkstone denied bullying despite a phone message from Mr Tuohey found later accusing him.
Silkstone said he had lived with him for two-and-a-half years and if had bullied him, questioned why Mr Tuohey would let him stay.
He said that he would go out to shoplift to help feed both of their crack and heroin habits.
Silkstone went on to say he was not a violent person, but Ms Colborne reminded him that he was previously jailed for a street robbery in which a man was attacked and had his wallet taken.
Silkstone said he was only sentenced because he was there and denied taking a leading role.
He said: “I might be a little toerag but I’m not a violent person.”
The trial continues.