Ryan Merna, the son of the owners of a popular tourist attraction has been killed.
The man was murdered by a friend who stabbed him 32 times because he falsely believed he had raped a woman, a court has heard.
According to Metro UK, Ryan Merna, the son of Bernard and Kaye Merna who own Compton Acres botanical gardens in Poole, Dorset, died after he was attacked at his flat in the seaside town on August 14 last year.
Friend Paul Taylor, who was homeless and who Mr Merna had allowed to stay on his sofa, is accused of the murder of the 29-year-old which he denies.
Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Merna had become friends with 50-year-old Taylor when they had both received treatment at St Ann's psychiatric hospital in Poole.
She said Mr Merna, who worked as an assistant curator at Compton Acres, had asked Taylor to move out of his flat, which he owned, and had packed up his belongings in bin bags before the attack happened.
Miss Maylin said Mr Merna called 999 and could be heard amid shouting: 'Someone is coming at me with a knife, I need help.'
She added: 'When police arrived, they saw Paul Taylor run away and sit on a piece of street furniture.
'Ryan was lying at the base of the communal stairs on his back and sticking in the back of his chest is a knife still in situ.'
She said that a neighbour also alerted police after hearing a fight and someone crying out: 'Someone call the police, please.'
Miss Maylin said Mr Merna suffered 32 stab wounds to his head and body including a deep wound to his groin and another to his right chest that caused his lung to collapse.
Miss Maylin added that Taylor had accused Mr Merna of the rape of a woman but the alleged victim said there had not been any sexual assault.
She said after Taylor was arrested, he told police: 'I have killed Ryan Merna, I have killed a rapist.'
He continued: 'If he isn't, will you let me back in there so I can finish him off properly, I really hope he is dead, I came here to murder him, he needs to pay for what he has done.'
When he was charged with murder, Miss Maylin said he 'celebrated the news by 'whooping and shouting' and said: 'Does that mean he's dead, halle-f**-lujah, I have killed a f** rapist, yes.'
She said that Taylor also told police that Mr Merna had stabbed him first and he had retaliated to prevent himself from being hurt further.
Miss Maylin said although Taylor had previously suffered periods of mental illness, at the time of the incident he was assessed as being sane but suffering from a personality disorder.
Compton Acres is made up of 10 acres of gardens overlooking Poole Harbour which are open to the public.
The trial continues at Winchester Crown Court.
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