Murder accused 'brutally' beat friend, trial told

A man was "brutally" attacked by a childhood friend he had known for about 40 years, a murder trial has heard.

Graham Howard, 49, of Brook Street in Syston, Leicestershire, is on trial at Leicester Crown Court accused of killing Simon Geary between 22 and 23 December 2025.

Prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC told the court on Monday the pair had gone to drink alcohol at the defendant's flat, and at about midnight Howard "brutally and repeatedly hit him, and when he was on the ground he stamped on him".

Jurors were told they would hear evidence Howard had "delusional beliefs" about Geary, and that he believed he was Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, in Russia.

The court was shown CCTV of Howard and Geary making two trips to an Aldi store in Syston on the evening of 22 December to buy alcohol, where the prosecutor said they were communicating with each other with "no obvious signs of animosity".

"At some point for whatever reason, perhaps triggered by an argument, perhaps because of drink and drugs, he brutally attacked him," Donnellan said.

Jurors were told Geary suffered blunt force trauma injuries and was left on the kitchen floor of Howard's flat in a "pool of blood".

The court was told Howard then got into Geary's car at 00:22 GMT to drive to meet a woman to repay a debt, with the defendant returning to his flat at 00:45.

Donnellan said that at 00:28, Howard told a neighbour on the phone he was out "drinking with Simon".

"He's thinking, and he's lying," Donnellan added.

Jurors were told in addition to "delusional beliefs", Howard had schizophrenia.

Donnellan said the Crown understood the defence would argue his mental disorder at the time of the killing diminished his responsibility.

The court heard Howard denied causing any injury to Geary.

Donnellan said any mental disorder was affected by drinking alcohol, but added: "He knew what he was doing, he knew he was killing another human being."

The trial continues.

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