A hammer attacker who left a man severely brain damaged and in need of lifelong care in a brutal Valentine’s Day murder bid has been jailed.
Barry Madley launched a savage assault with a claw hammer on Steven Davidson, who he later claimed was his friend.
During a police interview, Madley, 53, denied hitting Mr Davidson but following a court appearance he told his mother: “I fractured the boy’s head with a hammer.”
He later told officers: “I can’t believe I done it.”
He said he was going to plead to it and “get this over with”.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Madley, formerly of Stewart Court, Methil admitted attempting to murder Mr Davidson, 48, at the victim’s home – also in Stewart Court – on February 14 2020.
He repeatedly hit the victim on the head with the hammer to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of his life.
‘Cannot lead an independent life’
Advocate depute Richard Goddard QC said: “The complainer has suffered severe and irreversible brain damage and will be permanently disabled.
“He is unable to walk and requires to be transferred from a bed to a wheelchair via a hoist.
“It is extremely unlikely he will walk again.
“He cannot lead an independent life.
“Medical opinion is that he will require to be placed in a care home for the rest of his life.”
Mr Goddard added: “Due to the permanent impairment suffered by the complainer he has no recollection of the attack upon him.”
Police found unconscious victim
The court heard Madley had frequently visited the home of his victim in Methil.
A visitor to the flat saw the two men together on the day of the murder bid but did not notice any sign of tension between them.
At about 7.30pm Mr Davidson phoned a friend in an extremely distressed state and said: “Please, please come and help me.
“Baz has just been across and battered me with a claw hammer.”
He seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness.
The friend and another man who received a similar call, went to the flat and heard groaning so they contacted emergency services.
Police attended and forced entry and found the victim on a couch in the living room.
He was unconscious, with laboured breathing.
Mr Goddard said: “It was immediately obvious that the complainer had a number of serious head injuries that were actively bleeding.”
Left with brain damage
Paramedics could not insert a tube into the victim’s airway because of the amount of swelling and gave him oxygen via a mask.
In hospital, Mr Davidson was placed in a medically-induced coma and scans revealed skull and eye socket fractures and internal bleeding.
He was later transferred to an Edinburgh hospital where he underwent surgery.
Mr Goddard said: “CT scans have shown that he had received widespread brain damage.
“This was traumatic brain injury as a result of repeated blows by the hammer.”
He was later transferred to a rehabilitation facility and is now in a care home.
Attacker’s admission to mother
Following the attack, Madley was traced by police and arrested and claimed he had only been to a local shop that night.
During a later interview he stated Mr Davidson was his friend and denied having an argument with him.
After he was released on bail at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court officers took him to his mother’s address where he said he had fractured his head with a hammer.
Blood from the victim was found on clothing taken from Madley during police enquiries.
Madley offered to take police to where he said he had disposed of boots and the hammer and the weapon was found.
Lord Young deferred sentence for the preparation of a background report.
Madley, who was on bail, was remanded in custody.
He is due to be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow in July.
