Father of three ‘scared’ of neighbour months before fatal attack, court told

Matthew Boorman said he did not know what Can Arslan might do and or ‘what he’s capable of’.

Police activity in Snowdonia Road, Walton Cardiff, Tewkesbury, after Matthew Boorman was stabbed to death (Rod Minchin/PA) (PA Wire)

A father of three who was stabbed to death by his neighbour had spoken of his fears about what the man might do to him and his family just months before he was killed, a court has heard.

Matthew Boorman said he was “very scared” of what Can Arslan might do and did not “know what he’s capable of”.

Mr Boorman was fatally attacked by 52-year-old Arslan on his front lawn in Snowdonia Road, Walton Cardiff, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, on October 5 last year.

Arslan had subjected the 43-year-old victim and other local residents of the new-build development to years of threats and abuse, and had been charged with harassment just a week before the killing.

He is on trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of Mr Boorman’s murder, and Kate Brunner QC, prosecuting, read to the jury statements made as part of civil injunction proceedings launched by Tewkesbury Borough Council to stop Arslan’s anti-social behaviour.

Mr Boorman had made his statement on May 13 last year and he said he had lived next door to Arslan since 2013, with his neighbour calling him “Hitler” and “cocksucker”.

Mr Boorman detailed the contents of a 30-minute telephone conversation he had heard Arslan making the previous evening.

“I could hear Mr Arslan speaking in his garden in a raised voice and could make out he was making reference to being arrested last Tuesday,” Mr Boorman said.

“I believe Mr Arslan was on the phone to someone – or pretending to be – and immediately caused me to be frustrated as this is what Mr Arslan has been doing for the last two years, and also why he’s currently on police bail conditions not to have any direct or indirect contact with my household.

“I remember certain things which were said on these phone calls. Mr Arslan was speaking in such a loud voice that I could clearly hear what he was saying.

“Some of the comments are: i) he likes being arrested, ii) he is unhinged, iii) he misses prison food, iv) God forgives but I will not forget.

“He referred to an incident in 2009 when he assaulted someone after a road rage incident and put them in intensive care. If he would have killed that guy he would be out by now.

“He talks about hoping he would go to prison and would get out early because he is unhinged.”

Mr Boorman said Arslan also referred to “Hitler”, which he assumed was a reference to him.

“Due to ongoing issues, hearing this from Mr Arslan caused me to feel very intimidated and concerned for the safety of myself and my family,” Mr Boorman said.

“He was in his back garden whilst on the phone saying these things.

“I believe he was well aware I may be hearing his conversations and the aim of doing this was to cause myself to feel alarmed and distressed, as well as to continually harass my family.

“I am very alarmed he made references in his conversations about missing prison and wanting to be arrested.

“I genuinely fear his conversation was meant to be overheard by us, to let us know that he isn’t scared of the police, is willing to go to prison, and when he is released he won’t forget about the incident.

“I also believe he’s trying to intimidate us into not making complaints to police. I am very scared of what Mr Arslan can do.

“He makes reference to being ex-special forces and has made threats previously of rape. This week he has taken images of my daughters’ bedrooms.

“I don’t know what he’s capable of and this causes myself and my wife to be continually anxious regarding the nature of Mr Arslan.”

Mr Boorman, who worked for engineering firm GE Aviation, had just returned from work when Arslan stabbed him.

His wife, Sarah, witnessed the entire attack and tried to pull Arslan off her husband, suffering a deep wound to her thigh as a result.

After the killing, Arslan forced his way into the home of Peter Marsden and stabbed him eight times, although Mr Marsden eventually managed to wrestle him out of the property.

The Boormans and people living nearby had suffered years of abuse from Arslan.

Arslan, who is Turkish, made counter-allegations, accusing the Boormans of racially abusing him.

The day before the attack, a police officer had telephoned Arslan about the complaint he had made.

Arslan informed the officer he would sort his neighbour out himself, adding he would “murder him”, the jury heard.

Arslan has admitted the attempted murder of Mr Marsden, causing grievous bodily harm to Mrs Boorman, and a charge of affray, but denies murder, claiming he was in the grip of a psychiatric disorder.