Trial begins over gay man stabbed to death in London

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

The trial of a man accused of attacking a gay couple with a knife has begun.

David Kilcullen, 46, is accused of the fatal stabbing of Gerry Edwards, 59, and the attack on his partner, 56-year-old Chris Bevan. The couple lived in Bromley, south-east London.

Kilcullen, of Bickley, is pleading not guilty and claims he acted in self-defence after allegedly being sexually assaulted.

But the Old Bailey heard yesterday that he had gone to the couple’s home armed with a knife in the intention of robbing them.

The attack took place in March at the couple’s home in Page Heath Villas.

Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene, while Bevan managed to escape the house. He suffered serious stab wounds and spent months in hospital.

Prosecutors said that Kilcullen had visited the home and subjected the couple to homophobic abuse. It was claimed that he then began stabbing Edwards and turned on Bevan when he tried to intervene. Bevan survived the attack “by chance”, the court heard.

It was claimed that after fleeing the property, Kilcullen drunkenly telephoned police and said he had carried out the attack because he was “skint”.

A broken bloodstained knife found at the property matched one in Kilcullen’s house, the court was told.

The court heard that the couple had lived together for many years and that Edwards was in poor health.

The case continues.