The victim, Craig Eade, was smashed around the head with a hammer after his assailant, Paul Watkins, choked him until he thought he was dead.
Drug addict Watkins, 36, stabbed Eade, who had learning difficulties, through the jugular until he stopped breathing on March 1.
Craig’s mom, Sharon Eade, said her son was diagnosed with a
brain tumour when he was three and was left with damage to his brain
stem and learning difficulties as a result.
The court heard Craig, who lived at Durham Place, Deckham, Gateshead, had been the subject of postings on Facebook making allegations against him and as a consequence, there were responses about people looking to confront him.
On Friday February 24 he was assaulted by a number of men and needed hospital treatment for cuts and bruises.
On his way home from hospital with his girlfriend, he had to run and hide from a group of men in a car who were looking for him.
On Sunday, February 26, Watkins turned up at Craig’s home and lured him to his flat with the offer of drugs. Craig was reported missing two days later.
After his arrest, Watkins told police, “I had hit, then choked, Mr. Eade before tying him up.” At that stage, he believed him to be dead.
Craig’s mother said, “When he realised he was not, he took a knife and stabbed him to the throat.
“At the time of the killing, he had been aware of accusations within the community that the deceased was alleged to be responsible for robberies and a sexual assault,” police said.
“The defendant challenged him about the rumours, which had been denied.
“The defendant took a hammer from the table and struck him twice to the head.
“He said the deceased curled up defensively at which point he continued to strike him with the
hammer before kicking and stamping on him to the body.
“He said he then put him in a choking hold for a minute.
“When he didn’t believe him to be breathing, he moved him into the back bedroom and began to wrap him up.
“When he realised the deceased was not dead, he used a four-inch knife to stab him to the side of the neck.
“He said he had tied him with cable ties (when he was unconscious or dead).”
After the murder, Watkins went and bought more crack cocaine and then slept while Craig’s body lay in his home.
Watkins told police he was sorry for Craig’s family, and that he was unaware Craig had learning difficulties and mental health problems.
Craig’s body was discovered in the wheelie bin in a back lane between Northbourne Street and Inskip
Terrace, Deckham, Gateshead, on March 1. His hands and legs were tied up.
He died from the knife wound, but the strangulation was also capable of causing his death.
The court heard Craig had a global learning disability and ADHD as well as other mental health issues and would have been easily enticed by the offer of money or drugs.
Watkins, of Northbourne Street, who has 107 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to murder and unrelated offences of burglary and possessing heroin with intent.
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