Murder Suspects Allegedly Left Body for 19 Hours Before Contacting Emergency Services

A court has heard that two men are alleged to have murdered their neighbour following a dispute over rubbish, subsequently leaving his body for 19 hours before contacting 999. Martin Carty, 56, and Mark Sothcott, 55, stand accused of killing 68-year-old Franklin Ingram on 22 June this year at Mr Carty’s flat in Hollands, Yeovil, Somerset. The court was told that on the night of the alleged killing, Mr Ingram was observed entering Mr Carty’s residence dressed only in his underpants and a t-shirt, and carrying a hammer. The defendants deny the murder charge, asserting that they acted in self-defence. However, Joanna Martin KC, prosecuting, stated that their actions “went beyond what is lawful and reasonable”. Mr Ingram resided in the flat below Mr Carty within a block of flats on Raglan Terrace and had previously lodged complaints about him with their housing association, the court heard. The alleged attack reportedly occurred hours after Mr Ingram had complained about Mr Carty sweeping rubbish and depositing it outside his own flat. The court was informed that Mr Sothcott, who lives on nearby Stiby Road, and Mr Carty were “old friends and drinking buddies” and had been together in Mr Carty’s flat on the evening of 22 June. CCTV footage showed Mr Ingram shouting and swearing before he returned to his own flat. Jurors were told that he subsequently reappeared at 22:48, holding a hammer, and was heard striking it against a bannister before ascending the stairs and entering Mr Carty’s flat. Ms Martin stated: “The prosecution say that at this time there are clearly sounds of a fight.” She further indicated that Mr Ingram sustained fatal injuries within minutes of entering the flat. The court was informed that Mr Sothcott received a phone call at 22:53, during which a voice was audible saying, “might need some first aid.” At 23:15, Mr Carty reportedly told a friend, “need you up here now,” which was followed by a phone call lasting 10 minutes. The prosecutor asserted that at that juncture, “it’s clear the defendants knew Frank was dead.” Jurors were informed that Mr Sothcott and Mr Carty are accused of inflicting “nasty wounds to his [Mr Ingram’s] arms and or legs” using either a knife or an axe. The court was told that Mr Ingram’s neck had been “extended and rotated in such a way” that it resulted in damage to two major arteries, and he would likely “have died instantly.” The day following Mr Ingram’s death, Mr Sothcott attended his cleaning job at the local Labour club before meeting Mr Carty for an afternoon drinking session. The jury was presented with CCTV footage showing Mr Carty removing bags of rubbish from his flat and spending most of the remainder of the day in various pubs, while Mr Ingram remained deceased in his flat. Jurors heard that he contacted 999 at approximately 18:40 BST on 23 June, 19 hours after Mr Ingram’s death, informing the operator that he had discovered his neighbour “dead on the couch.” Ms Martin stated: “The operator kept asking Mr Carty to try some CPR and to try to put Mr Ingram into the recovery position.” She informed the court: “Mr Carty, perhaps unsurprisingly, considering what he knew about how long Mr Ingram had been dead, refused to do so.” Ms Martin concluded: “We say the defendants’ actions clearly went beyond what was lawful and reasonable self-defence.” The trial is ongoing.