Man 'killed friend by stabbing him 32 times because he wrongly believed he was a rapist'

Court hears Paul Taylor "whooped and shouted" with delight after learning he had killed Ryan Merna

Ryan Merna was stabbed to death at his flat in Wessex Road, Poole (Google Street View)

A man stabbed his friend 32 times because he wrongly believed he was a rapist, a court heard.

Ryan Merna died after being attacked at his flat in Poole, Dorset on 14 August last year.

Paul Taylor, 50, who is charged with his murder, is said to have "whooped" with delight after learning his 29-year-old friend had died, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Mr Taylor slept on Mr Merna's sofa after becoming homeless but had been told to leave before the killing, said prosecutor Kerry Paylin.

The pair had become friends when they were receiving treatment at St Ann's psychiatric hospital in Poole,

Mr Merna went on to work as an assistant curator at Compton Acres botanical gardens, a popular tourist attraction run by his millionaire parents Bernard and Kaye.

Before his death, he had asked Mr Taylor to move out of his flat, which he owned, and had packed up his belongings in bin bags before the attack happened, the court heard.

Ms Maylin said Mr Merna called 999 and could be heard shouting: "Someone is coming at me with a knife, I need help."

She added: "When police arrived, they saw Paul Taylor run away and sit on a piece of street furniture. Ryan was lying at the base of the communal stairs on his back and sticking in the back of his chest is a knife still in situ."

She said that a neighbour also alerted police after hearing a fight and someone crying out: "Someone call the police, please."

Mr Merna suffered 32 stab wounds to his head and body, including a deep wound to his groin and another to his right chest that caused his lung to collapse.

Mr Taylor had accused Mr Merna of raping of a woman but the alleged victim said she had not been sexually assaulted, the court heard.

After Mr Taylor was arrested, he told police: "I have killed Ryan Merna, I have killed a rapist."

He added: "If he isn't, will you let me back in there so I can finish him off properly, I really hope he is dead, I came here to murder him, he needs to pay for what he has done."

When he was charged with murder he "celebrated the news by whooping and shouting," Miss Maylin said

The alleged killer said to police: "Does that mean he's dead, halle-f***ing-lujah, I have killed a f***ing rapist, yes."

Mr Taylor also claimed Mr Merna had stabbed him first and he had retaliated to prevent himself from being hurt further, the court heard.

Although Mr Taylor had previously suffered periods of mental illness, at the time of the incident he was assessed as being sane but suffering from a personality disorder.

Mr Taylor denies murder. The trial continues.