by Aline Nassif

aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk

A college lab technician was beaten and stabbed to death in his own home by three intruders who thought he was an "easy touch," the Old Bailey heard today (Friday).

Anthony Fernandes, 46, suffered at least 17 knife wounds from four different knives and bled to death, despite emergency surgery.

He was attacked by Paul Maddix, 44, Darren Listen, 27, and a 15-year-old boy who broke in to his one-bedroom flat, jurors were told.

Maddix has already admitted murder, while the other two deny the charge.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood said: "Whether Mr Fernandes was there at home already when they went in or perhaps returned later to find them there, when he objected to their presence and asked them to leave their mood changed.

"It became ugly and murderous.

'"hey fell on him with knives using at least four weapons against him, one of which was used with sufficient force to break clean in half."

The three alleged attackers were said to have spent the afternoon of July 28 last year drinking in Wandle Park.

Just after 6pm they took a taxi straight to Mr Fernandes' home in Windmill Road, Broad Green, and having bought more alcohol they forced their way in through the communal front door of the Victorian semi and in to his ground-floor flat, the court heard.

Mr Fernandes, a senior chemistry technician for 20 years at Epsom college, had only recently befriended Listen, whose grandparents lived opposite.

Mr Heywood told the court: "They had all been drinking. In the case of Listen and Maddix they had no where else to live.

"They thought Mr Fernandes, who Listen at least already knew, would perhaps be an easy touch."

Neighbours heard raised voices and shouting around 8pm and just 33 minutes later Mr Fernandes was dead.

Jurors were told Maddix made a 999 call from the scene and admitted carrying out the killing.

"Anthony Fernandes was enjoying the long summer holiday from his job at a school. By the end of that day he was dead, stabbed in his own home with a battery of knives taken by intruders from his own kitchen," said the prosecutor.

"He was out numbered and attacked repeatedly and ruthlessly.

"He was attacked with such sustained ferocity that despite his attempts to avoid his attackers and to ward off their blows he sustained at least 17 knife wounds.

"He was also heavily beaten, mostly about the head causing him other significant injuries.

"That repeated used of force against him and the number and kind of injuries he suffered mostly by weapons was so great that even accident and emergency surgeons could not save his live.

"To put it simply, he bled to death."

The court was told homeless, drunk Listen left the flat and wandered the streets of Croydon, making a series of phone calls from phone boxes and dumping his blood-stained T-shirt before being arrested.

He is said to have admitted murdering Mr Fernandes in one of his calls.

Listen had been on the streets after being evicted from a flat in Derby Road, Croydon.

The youth, now 16, who cannot be named because of his age, is said to have gone home to his mother and sisters, washed and changed.

Gold-toothed Maddix has admitted murder and is awaiting sentence.

Mr Heywood said both Listen and the youth will claim they only witnessed the killing but did not take part in it, blaming Maddix or each other for the attack.

"The prosecution case is that all were involved and bear criminal responsibility for Mr Fernandes's death either because they joined in the attack or they encouraged those others there who did so," said the prosecutor.

Listen, of Derby Road, Croydon; and the 16-year-old, also from Croydon; deny murder.

Maddix, of no fixed address, is not before the court. He pleaded guilty to murder at a hearing on March 29.

The trial continues.