Pensioner jailed after sitting on neighbour and beating him to death over noise row

A pensioner who murdered his neighbour over a noise dispute has been jailed for a minimum of 12-and-a-half years.

James Hughes, 67, from St Asaph, Denbighshire, refused to leave his cell while sentence was passed at Caernarfon Crown Court.

Harold Turner, 68, died on Christmas Day 2025 at The Old Palace sheltered accommodation where he lived.

He was about to move out after complaining Hughes frequently kept him awake all night by banging his walking stick on the wall.

The court heard Hughes sat on top of Turner, who had heart disease, during a confrontation.

Hughes recorded the encounter with a Dictaphone he wore around his neck as he said he was worried Turner would attack him.

When Turner said he couldn't breathe, the court heard, Hughes replied: "What a shame", adding: "You can die for all I care."

The jury was told he then beat the unconscious Turner with his stick.

A post-mortem examination found Turner died as a result of asphyxia and had suffered blunt force trauma to his face and head.

After beating Turner, Hughes returned to his flat, made a hot drink and listened to the radio for 23 minutes before calling an ambulance.

He was recorded telling his nephew on the phone: "I think I may have killed someone."

In a victim impact statement Turner's sister, Michele Appleton, said: "Christmas will be never be a joyful time of the year again."

She said she had spoken to her brother that morning, and was waiting for him to call her back.

She described having "a lovely day until a knock on my door changed everything".

Two police officers then told her that her brother had been murdered.

She said it had left her "devastated, angry, numb".

Handing Hughes a life sentence, Judge Matthew Nicklin said while he was satisfied Turner initiated the attack, the way Hughes spoke to him was "angry, callous and cruel".

He said the assault was aggravated by Hughes' refusal to get off his victim after being told he couldn't breathe.