Killing of Shrewsbury man admitted

A 40-YEAR-OLD man has admitted attacking and killing a Shrewsbury man whose body was found at a flat in the town.

Shawn Heath Adams pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 30-year-old Wesley Morris when he appeared at Stafford Crown Court yesterday.

Adams, of The Paddocks, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury, had denied a charge of murdering Mr Morris in October last year but admitted the lesser charge on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Mr Andrew Lockhart, prosecuting, said that pleas by Adams were accepted following consultations between the Crown Prosecution Service, West Mercia Police detectives and members of Mr Morris's family.

He said the defendant had admitted that he lost control and was responsible for all the injuries Mr Morris sustained.

Judge Stephen Tonking adjourned sentence on Adams until Thursday and remanded him in custody.

Mr Morris's body was discovered by a relative at his flat in Lancaster Road, Harlescott, just before 1.45pm on October 12.

A subsequent post mortem carried out by a Home Office pathologist revealed that Mr Morris, who was unemployed and lived alone at the flat, died from severe head injuries.

Detectives sealed off the block of flats in Lancaster Road after Mr Morris's body was found.

Neighbours said that his mother was understood to have visited the flat that afternoon where she found her son.

They said an argument broke out at the property earlier in the day but no alarms were raised as they often heard shouting and arguing from the flat.

Police initially launched a murder investigation with more than 40 officers and staff working on the case at its peak. Forensic teams set up a tent outside the flat while officers carried out door-to-door inquiries.

About five officers stood guard while forensic teams were seen bringing bagged items out of the property.

Adams was initially arrested on suspicion of murder at another property in the town just over an hour after Mr Morris's body was found.

He was due to stand trial at Stafford Crown Court this week until his plea to manslaughter.

By Arthur Mills