Swansea: Murder charge brother claims self-defence

Swansea Crown Court had heard that the brothers' relationship was "volatile"

A man accused of murdering his older brother has insisted it was self-defence, a court has heard.

Darren Steel, 39, is accused of killing his sibling Martin at the latter's house in Hill View Crescent, Swansea, last year.

Martin Steel's body was found by their mother, slumped in a chair and covered in blood, Swansea Crown Court was told.

The brothers' relationship had been described as "volatile", especially when alcohol was involved.

On Thursday Mr Steel admitted for the first time in court that he had assaulted his former partner, Dawn Begley, having chased her with a hammer and thrown her to the ground on the day of his brother's death.

Previously having pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Mr Steel changed his plea for assaulting her to guilty.

Mr Steel, from Morriston in Swansea, cried as he insisted he had not meant to kill his brother, and said he was addicted to crack cocaine, Xanax, Valium and heroin.

He told the court that on the day of his brother's death he and Ms Begley had rowed about his use of heroin - which she had kept in her purse and refused to give him - leading to a "tug of war" between the two.

He claimed his brother then appeared behind him holding in his hand a drill bit - which was later recovered by police - and the pair fought.

"My aim wasn't to cause damage, certainly not to kill him - my aim was to get the drill bit out of his hand," said Mr Steel.

"I should have let him stab me and sorted myself out in hospital rather than to have gone to this extent."

He also denied, in the run-up to his brother's death, tying up a friend named Julian Samuel and subjecting him to two days of abuse, but did admit giving him a "backhander" to his face.

The trial continues.