THE five-week-long murder trial gave an insight into the world of drink and drug addicts in Oxford.
Wayne Cattell and Daniel McCollin were yesterday convicted of murdering homeless man Denis Witney.
They were part of a group that would drink strong lager from early in the morning until late at night.
They would also share any accommodation they had, along with alcohol and drugs. They would also hang around outside the city’s night shelter, O’Hanlon House, in Luther Street, in the city centre.
Oxford Crown Court heard Cattell, 37, was an alcoholic and drug addict, who had struggled to hold on to a job or long-term accommodation.
The jurors were told he usually drank about nine or 10 cans of strong lager every day and was also a regular heroin and crack cocaine user.
Despite brief spells as a labourer and six months working at the BMW car factory in Cowley, his only regular income was from Jobseeker’s Allowance.
He had previous convictions for theft, burglary and perverting the course of justice.
He spent repeated short spells in prison, most recently for burglary with intent to steal in March 2010, for which he was given a seven-month sentence.
Cattell also had a turbulent relationship with his girlfriend Diane Hayes, the court heard.
When he was released from jail in September last year the couple went to live with Joanne Moriarty at her flat in Mortimer Road, Rose Hill. Two weeks before Mr Witney’s murder, they moved in with Diane’s sister Katey Hayes in St Clement’s Street, where Mr Witney was attacked.
They were due to be evicted the day after he died.
McCollin, 30, had similar problems with drink and drugs.
He told the court he started smoking cannabis aged 11, and by the time he was 14, he was using ecstasy and speed.
But it was not until he was 25 and in prison that he was introduced to heroin.
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