A builder chased and then killed his workmate in a merciless stabbing attack at a house in Birmingham, it has been alleged. The body of 32-year-old Shane Thompson was later discovered by his girlfriend in a pool of blood on her bed, a court was told.
Robert Goodwin, 32, of Washington Court, Birmingham, has denied a charge of murder. James Dawes KC, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said Shane was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife that he took from Shane’s girlfriend’s house.
He said that the attack to place at the property in Roundlea Road, Bartley Green, on December 4 2021 at 7.45pm. Mr Dawes said the victim’s girlfriend was not there when it happened.
He said: “It was a merciless attack with at least 17 stab wounds. Shane and the defendant had spent the day together.
“They had both been working together as builders. After that, they went to the pub and had gone back to the house. Because Shane died before the alarm was raised and before paramedics and police attended the only person who can tell you why he did it is the defendant.
“There appears to be no background of animosity between the two men and Shane must have felt comfortable in the company of the defendant to invite him back to his girlfriend’s house. From the blood distribution within the house, it seems as though Shane ran away from the defendant as he was stabbed.
“The defendant pursued Shane up the stairs in this small house stabbing him to the back of his legs as he ascended the stars.” Mr Dawes told the court that the victim fled into the bedroom where he made his ‘last stand before being stabbed to death’.
“He collapsed on the bed and died in that position,” He added. “The defendant left the knife at the scene and then fled.” Mr Dawes said that Goodwin had then tried to cover his tracks by stealing the victim’s BMW and driving away.
He said that the defendant had changed his clothes and had driven to another area of Birmingham. The car was later abandoned in Halesowen, the court was told.
Mr Dawes said in the meantime Mr Thompson’s girlfriend had gone to her address and found a mess downstairs. “She went upstairs and found her boyfriend’s body in a pool of blood on her bed,” he said.
“One can only imagine how upsetting that must have been for her. The police were called and the ambulance called but it was too late.” Mr Dawes said that Mr Thompson was a carpenter and plasterer by trade and that he had met his girlfriend in 2018 and had started a relationship.
They did not have any children and their relationship was on and off. Sophie suspected her boyfriend of infidelity and Shane had a cocaine habit which got in the way of their relationship, said Mr Dawes.
He said that the victim and the defendant had previously shared a cell together at HMP Birmingham for five days and that after that they had stayed in contact with one another.
The trial continues
