Dylan Thomas trial: Man accused of murder of housemate told officers he was 'Jesus' after arrest

A man accused of mudering his housemate told officers that he was "Jesus" following his arrest, a court has heard. Dylan Thomas, 24, has admitted killing former surveyor William Bush, 23, at the property they shared in Cardiff but denies murder and is standing trial.

Cardiff Crown Court was told "screams of horror" were audible to neighbours in Chapel Street, Llandaff, during an alleged sustained and brutal attack which saw Mr Bush stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife and in which his throat was cut. Thomas arrived at Ty Mathew, the home he and Mr Bush shared, at 11.16am on December 24 having had a lift from his grandmother Sharon Burton. You can follow our live updates from the trial here.

In his opening of the case prosecutor Greg Bull KC said the pair had lived at Ty Mathew in Chapel Street for several years having met as schoolboys at Christ College, Brecon. The court heard former surveyor Mr Bush, who was due to start a new job, was looking to move out of the property and set up home with his partner.

Outlining what the prosecution allege happened Mr Bull said: “It is the prosecution case that Mr Thomas made his way into the property. He entered through the kitchen where he armed himself with a large kitchen knife and a black lock knife or flick knife. He then proceeded to go up the two staircases and into the room of William Bush.

“It is the prosecution case that Mr Bush was attacked from behind, probably with the flick knife, as Mr Bush was sat or stood near to a beanbag. He was stabbed at least once to the back of the neck. The attack caused Mr Bush to flee for his life down to the ground floor."

On Tuesday the jury heard Thomas told officers he was "Jesus" following his arrest. Defence barrister Orlando Pownall KC reiterated that the defendant would not be giving evidence but referred to a number of comments made by Thomas while he was in police custody.

The court heard Thomas first told officers while being detained in the police van that he was "sorry" they had to attend, adding: "I know it’s not what you want to do at Christmas." Thomas was taken to hospital for treatment and was said to have appeared “unfazed” by the alleged events which had earlier occurred.

Later, while in custody on December 24 at Cardiff Bay custody suite, Thomas told an officer he was Jesus and the officer was “in his subconscious”. He offered the officer “a job with God” which she declined. The defendant then spoke about “several dimensions” and said he and the officer were “in the safest one”.

Thomas went on to ask about different sorts of prisons, the officer’s personal life, and claimed senior officers were “corrupt”. When the officer said she disagreed with him Thomas said: "I’m impressed by your naivety". The jury heard that the defendant's demeanour would fluctuate from responding normally to becoming confused about conversations.

On January 3 an officer described being on “one-to-one” watch with Thomas. The court heard the defendant would relax and lie on his bed and ask the officer questions about his personal life. The officer said he appeared obsessed about what time it was and asked every five minutes. The defendant then went on to ask the officer to Google Adam and Eve because “he wanted to know the story”.

Later, on February 19, Thomas asked officers if “memory is on the right” and when asked to describe his childhood, he said: “Mixed, happy, too sexual and loving.” He said technology coming into the world was causing him stress and had “got too much in it”. He said he did not know where he was and “computer stuff was confusing him”. He said a lot of people around him “wanted to die”.

When asked about his comment in relation to being Jesus, Thomas said he said it but did not believe it and said he'd said it for the officer’s reaction. He said: “Somebody wants me to do something and talk to someone. I’m confused but if I don’t it will get worse.”

See more of our reporting from the trial of Dylan Thomas

• The chilling sequence in which prosecutors say a man murdered his friend
• Man who killed his friend in knife attack had tried to break into Buckingham Palace
• Stabbing victim's extensive list of injuries revealed
• Accused searched for arteries, veins and neck images before killing friend

After he was taken into custody, initially on suspicion of attempted murder before being arrested on suspicion of murder, Thomas told police: “I killed him. He came at me and I stabbed him…. I stabbed him. He attacked me… It was self-defence. He attacked me… He was having an episode. It has been happening for months.”

The court heard the defendant claims he was suffering from “abnormality of mind” at the time of the Mr Bush's death and did not have rational judgement about whether what he was doing was right or wrong or have the ability to exercise will power in respect of his irrational thoughts. Thomas, also of Ty Mathew, Chapel Street, Llandaff, denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The case, which is expected to last for up to three weeks, continues.