Hammer accused admits guilt

2003-06-17 08:41

Vera Schoeman

East London - "Stripped of all emotion...looking as if he was watching pigeons from a park bench."

This is how a young Uitenhage man looked on Monday after admitting guilt in the bloody hammer attack on his best friend last year.

Nicholas Northard, 22, will be sentenced on July 31.

Matthew Marsland, who was attacked, didn't attend court proceedings, because he's virtually an invalid since the attack.

Marsland's emotional father, Philip, said after the court proceedings that his son couldn't talk and often just lies still while tears run down his cheeks.

His brain is full of bone shard, he cannot spell, nor do mathematical equations and can take only small steps at a time. He suffers such excrutiating pain at times, that he doesn't allow anyone near him.

Marsland, who also lives in Uitenhage, says the fact that Northard admitted guilt without giving any explanation was an anti-climax. "We hoped to receive answers. Now there are only more questions."

The lives of the Marslands changed for ever on July 10 last year when they received the news that their son had been attacked in his south Lambeth, London, flat.

His flatmate and bosom buddy since nursery school days, Nicholas Northard, was found lying in a pool of blood next to the bed.

Pathology reports handed to the court showed that Matthew had been sleeping when the first blow struck his head.

The second blow came as he sat up and the third while he was lying next to the bed unconscious.

Northard tried to cut his wrists and throat afterwards, but he was found in time and placed under police guard in hospital.

Following his recovery, he was taken to Brixton prison, where he is still being held.

- Die Burger