A MAN who tried to kill his best friend's parents admitted he was driven by evil, wickedness and greed for money.

Neil Campbell, 23, told Lewes Crown Court that at the time of the attempted murder he thought the attack was funny. Campbell was being cross-examined as he gave evidence in the trial of 23-year-old Ian Ayres who denies being part of the plot to murder his parents Vivienne and Robert Ayres.

Campbell, who says he is best friends with Ian's elder brother Neil, has already pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Mrs Ayres, 55, and to wounding her husband Robert, 56, with a meat hammer at their home in East Preston, near Worthing.

He claims he originally intended to kill Ian Ayres and his parents before committing suicide but after hitting Ian Ayres with the meat hammer couldn't go through with it and says Ian then joined him in his murderous plot.

Asked by Anthony Donne QC why he had attacked the couple, Campbell replied: "I didn't hate Mr and Mrs Ayres. I don't think I can give a reason - it's not something I have been able to establish myself." But he admitted evil, wickedness, greed and envy of their comfortable lifestyle had all played a part.

He also described the couple as "boring" and Mr Ayres as "tight with money" . He said: "It appeared as though Mr Ayres played very little role within the family unit other than as a moving cheque book." And when asked if he thought their money would be better of with himself and Neil Ayres, Campbell replied: "Yes, I think that had got into my head."

He said the couple had treated him with disdain whenever they met him but he denied he was giving false evidence against Ian Ayres in court to further destroy the family. Yesterday the jury watched a video of Campbell being interviewed by police shortly after he had fled the Ayres' home on April 30, last year and been arrested in a stolen police car.

He was seen laughing and joking as he related how he had taken a large amount of speed and repeatedly hit Mrs Ayres. During the interview he described how Mrs Ayres lay bleeding on the floor after he had hit her with a meat hammer.

He said: "She was crying all the time and going on about how much she loved the boys and there was blood everywhere and I couldn't do it - I lost it - I was running out of steam." Campbell told police he had sent Ian upstairs to fetch a shotgun but fled the house before using it.

After the screening of the video Campbell was asked why he was laughing when questioned by police. He replied: "At the time I was out of my tree, I was highly intoxicated. At the time I thought it was funny."

The court also heard how drug-dealing Campbell had smoked cannabis since he was about 14 but had only started taking speed about two weeks before the attempted murder. Mr Donne said Campbell had told a psychiatrist he had periods when he was unable to sleep for days on end and his mind would be full of ideas. He would become "convinced of his own specialness and creativity and during these periods he and Neil would develop business plans, talking extensively together".

Campbell also told the court he had later suffered from a period of manic depression when he had no energy, smoked cannabis and drank red wine all day. The case continues.

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