A MAN tried to carry out the mercy killing of his life-long friend as he lay in a coma in a Belfast hospital, a court heard yesterday.
Thomas Hawkes (58), was remanded in custody charged with the attempted murder of stroke victim Billy Cousins.
It was claimed the accused was discovered in the Royal Victoria Hospital on Monday with his hands over Mr Cousins’s mouth and nose.
Opposing bail, a detective sergeant said Hawkes, of Rosslea Way, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, told police he was disappointed to have failed and would try again.
Defence counsel Mark Farrell said the case, believed to be the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, involved an attempt to assist in suicide rather than murder.
The barrister told Belfast Magistrates Court: “There was a verbal agreement that the living defendant would finish off the crippled.” According to Mr Farrell the victim – said to be also aged 58 and a well-known loyalist – suffered a life-threatening stroke up to three weeks ago from which he may never recover.
He claimed Mr Cousins and the accused, who he described as life-long friends, had talked about what to do should either be left stricken.
“The two of them bizarrely and strangely enough discussed the possibility that one of them might be in a vegetative state two-three weeks before this coma struck down Mr Cousins,” Mr Farrell said.
The court heard a brother of the victim had previously suffered a stroke which left him unable to manage his affairs.
Details of how Hawkes took drink before allegedly going onto the ward and pulling the curtains around Mr Cousins’s bed were also disclosed.
A senior nurse went to investigate and found the accused with one hand over the victim’s mouth, it was alleged. Hawkes was also said to be holding his friend’s nose.
The court was told that following his arrest the accused stated: “I didn’t get it right. I would have helped him, that would have helped me. I would do it again, I would do it for Billy.” Mr Farrell argued that rather than attempted murder, his client should face a charge of complicity in suicide.
“This is an extremely unusual, if not unprecedented case,” he said.
“From the point of his arrest the case put forward is that this defendant was effectively going to engage in a mercy killing.” A detective sergeant opposed bail due to the risk to the victim if Hawkes was released.
He said: “I don’t think it’s fair or conceivable to expect the hospital to put any form of further security on the injured party lying in a ward in a coma.
“It would be difficult for them to monitor visiting times, save bringing a police guard which is just not possible.”
The officer also outlined possible fears for Hawkes’s safety if bail was granted.
Refusing bail, District Judge Joe Rice said: “There is a real risk to the injured party in this case.