DISABLED murder victim Keith Opray fought "bravely" for his life when he was killed in a savage knife attack in his home by heroin addict Duncan Heaton.
But he had no chance of resisting the "vicious" onslaught by a man he knew and bled to death after suffering 43 stab wounds to his head, neck, chest, abdomen and back.
Heaton, who was desperate for money to buy drugs, then turned out his victim's pockets and stole what he could from his flat in Wareham Close, Bransholme, leaving Mr Opray's body and the horrific scene to be found by his distraught relatives.
Heaton, 41, of St Ives Close, Bransholme, was jailed for life at Hull Crown Court yesterday and told he must serve a minimum of 21 years and six months before he can be considered for release.
His barrister, John Thackray, said he was "thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour" and showed "genuine remorse", but that did not stop him clashing angrily with Mr Opray's grieving relatives as he was led away.
"B*****d", said a woman, "pig", said another, and Heaton stopped to say: "Is there any need for that?"
One of the women replied: "Is there any need for what you did?"
"F**k you 'n' all", said Heaton, before disappearing from view.
Details of the slaying were too distressing for some relatives to bear in court, and some left, while others were heard sobbing.
Of the 43 knife wounds Mr Opray suffered, 12 were described by a pathologist as "deep" and two severed the right jugular in his neck.
Heaton had also pressed a pillow over his victim's face in a bid to stop him screaming, and an unidentified liquid had been poured over it, the court heard.
Mr Opray, 51, may also have been suffocated during the attack on January 24.
At 9.04pm the night before, Mr Opray, who has been described as "a fantastic man with a big heart", had texted his sister to tell her he had just won £100 at bingo.
The court heard he was "vulnerable" and was born with disabilities.
He had a limp in his right leg, which gave him a "shuffle", and he had no strength in his right arm.
He had regular epileptic fits and could not see without glasses. A pair of glasses with one arm bent were found in a crumpled duvet at the scene.
Mr Opray had lived with his parents for most of his life until he moved into assisted accommodation in September 2012, and then into his own flat in Wareham Close, Bransholme, where he lived alone.
He was house proud, kept the flat "exceptionally neat and tidy", and had many electronic gadgets, which he liked.
He knew Heaton, who had visited the flat previously, including about a week before the killing.
Mr Opray had leant him £5 and they had argued over it being repaid. Heaton said: "He's not f*****g getting it", and Mr Opray said he would not allow him into his home again.
The day before the murder, Heaton told his friend, Kim Dilmen, he was "on the bones of his a**e", and she gave him a tin of soup and some dog food.
The court heard Heaton normally used between half a bag and two bags of heroin each day, a habit he funded through his benefits money or shoplifting.
At 9.45am on January 24, Heaton knocked on the window of Vicky Lambert, who he used to buy heroin with, but she did not answer.
When he returned at noon, he had blood on the front of his denim jacket and sleeve. His hand was injured with "slash marks" and he had a sock over it. He said he had injured himself on a tin opener.
Heaton also had Mr Opray's property with him – a black bag including coins and blood- stained £20 notes. He put three £20 notes on the table, which they used to buy heroin together.
He later told her he had burgled a house at 4am but no one was in. He asked about forensic science and said he had "cleaned up".
Heaton said he had an iPad and iPhone for sale. They were Mr Opray's.
Ms Lambert's mother bought the iPad, and Heaton later told Ms Lambert that he had sold an Xbox and 48 games, which also belonged to Mr Opray.
Heaton was captured on CCTV walking along Wawne Road at 10.18am. The prosecution said he murdered Mr Opray between 9am and noon that day. There was no sign of a break-in.
Despite Mr Opray's frailness and vulnerability, two cuts were found on his fingers, which the pathologist thought were defence injuries.
But there was only one drop of blood on the victim's jeans, suggesting he was not on his feet long after being stabbed in the stomach.
Blood smears suggested he had moved about on his knees. Bloodstains on the wall also suggested Mr Opray had been unable to recover his feet.
Mark McKone, prosecuting, said: "The blood on the wall was at a low level, suggesting he was attacked on, or near, the floor.
"It was clear he had moved around, but blood evidence suggests he did not get to his feet after he had been seriously injured."
The blade of the knife, which measured 11cm long and 3cm wide, snapped off in the attack and was removed by Heaton. The handle, which was stained with fat and blood, was found under Mr Opray's body.
On Saturday, January 25, when Mr Opray's relatives were concerned they had not heard from him, they went round and found him dead on his bedroom floor.
He was wearing jeans and a heavily bloodstained T-shirt, but no shoes or socks.
The flat was untidy, which was "very unusual" and a bedroom drawer was slightly ajar, suggesting the flat had been searched.
Heaton's blood and DNA were found in various locations and police went to his bedsit on January 28 and found hypodermic needles "strewn" around, blood in the bathroom and bloodstained trousers and jeans.
A denim jacket had Mr Opray's blood on the left cuff. When Heaton was arrested, heroin, cannabis and amphetamines were found in his blood and urine.
When asked what he knew about the death, he said "not a great deal", and claimed a friend had told him about it.
He gave no comment replies when asked about the blood on the sleeve, Mr Opray's injuries and whether DNA would link him to the crime.
An officer told him: "You've killed him and then you've took his property."
Heaton replied: "I've killed him, so? I'll tell my story in court."
But Heaton confessed to his cell-mate on or around February 10. He admitted smothering Mr Opray to stop him screaming and even drew a map showing three locations – for the blade, Mr Opray's flat keys and his bank cards.
The prosecution said although he admitted stabbing Mr Opray, he made the confession either to minimise what he had done and why, or so his cell-mate would not "think too badly of him".
He made no comment when interviewed about the confession, but later admitted murder and theft.
The court heard he had 77 previous convictions, which drew gasps from the packed public gallery. These were mainly for house burglary, but he also had convictions for possessing knives.
Mr Thackray said the only mitigation was his guilty plea.
Sentencing Heaton, Judge Michael Mettyear said: "Mr Opray was 51 when you killed him. He was disabled and vulnerable.
"He was unable to meaningfully defend himself against such a vicious attack, but there is evidence that he bravely did."
He said it was clear Mr Opray was "much loved" and offered the sympathy of the court to his family and friends.
The judge told Heaton: "As you know, there is only one sentence for murder and that is the sentence of life imprisonment, and that is the sentence I impose."
After the hearing, Mr Opray's niece Zara Opray said: "I can't believe he shouted at my family in court. He makes me sick.
"We are pleased he has finally been put away but, in my opinion, 21 years will never be an adequate sentence for my uncle Keith's life."
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