Paedo attacked with plank of wood named killer as sister's partner before dying
A convicted paedophile and rapist was murdered by his sister's partner with a plank of wood.
Carl Ball was attacked outside his home in Newport, Wales, by Andrew Southwood - resulting in internal bleeding which proved fatal.
The killer left the victim lying outside his flat before asking neighbours how he was.
Mr Ball, 51, had been subjected to multiple assaults prior to his death, after convicted in 2001 of raping a woman and sexually abusing a child for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
A trial at Newport Crown Court heard his flat in Duffryn had had its windows smashed and on one occasion was set alight.
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Mr Ball had received a suspended prison sentence for possession of a blade during an appearance at the city's magistrates court the same day as his death - August 19 last year.
He was also assaulted by Otis Jeffries in an attack which was filmed but played no part in Mr Ball’s death, the court heard.
Having called the police Mr Ball was spoken to by two PCSOs before being driven back to his home.
Southwood is the partner of victim Carl Ball's sister (WALES NEWS SERVICE)He was then seen walking in the direction of a neighbour's house and speaking to a man in a white car, reports WalesOnline.
But 10 minutes later the PCSOs who had dropped off Mr Ball were called back to the scene and discovered he was lying injured outside his flat.
The victim was “gaunt, pale, and complaining that he could not breathe”, the court heard.
By this stage he was “slowly dying” from internal bleeding coming from muscle tissue and the spleen, which had been torn in multiple places.
Mr Ball told officers Southwood was responsible for the attack.
He added: “They attacked me. They hit me with a stick. With a plank of wood… Southwood did it.”
He also said: “Plank of wood, massive plank of wood.”
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He then told his sister Michelle, who arrived at the scene, that the person responsible was “Andrew Southwood”.
A helicopter ambulance attended the scene but Mr Ball’s condition deteriorated with blood loss causing his heart to stop beating.
He went into cardiac arrest.
The case was heard at Newport Crown Court (Media Wales)CPR was given but despite the best efforts of the emergency services Mr Ball was pronounced dead at 8.29pm.
During this period, Southwood was in contact with Mr Ball’s neighbours Billy and Barry Williams, who lived above the victim.
Barry Williams sent the defendant aerial photographs of Mr Ball as he lay mortally wounded in his front yard.
Southwood later called Gwent Police after his partner Katie Ball received abusive messages from family about the victim.
He told police his “name had been mentioned” in relation to an assault on Mr Ball but did not know why.
The defendant was arrested at 4am on August 20.
Forensic evidence was also compiled including Mr Ball’s clothing, Southwood’s trainers, and a plank of wood found nearby.
Splinters taken from Mr Ball’s hoody, orange T-shirt, and Southwood’s trainers were found to have originated from the plank of wood.
The plank also contained a small blood stain but no DNA material could be traced but a further swabs contained DNA material linked to Mr Ball, Southwood, and two unknown individuals.
Giving evidence, Southwood admitted he was present when Mr Ball was attacked but claimed it was two men wearing Covid masks who had assaulted the victim.
Following a two-week trial, the defendant was found guilty of Mr Ball's murder today after the jury retired to consider their verdict yesterday.
The defendant remained silent as the verdict was given to the court.
Mr Justice Griffiths thanked the jury for their service and said only one sentence was available to Southwood and that was one of life imprisonment.
He adjourned sentencing until July 20 when a minimum term will be set.
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