A ROUGH sleeper who knifed a former friend 32 times in his own home ‘whooped in celebration’ when told of the victim’s death, a court has heard.

Paul Taylor, then 49, allegedly stabbed Ryan Merna at Greenwood Cottages in Wessex Road, Ashley Cross, on August 14 last year.

The defendant, who denies a charge of murder, had repeatedly called Mr Merna a “rapist” in a row overheard by neighbours before the incident, it was said.

No allegations of rape were made to police against Mr Merna.

Jurors sitting at Winchester Crown Court have heard that Taylor allegedly admitted in the days after his arrest: “I just tried to find an excuse for myself to – I don’t know.

“Trying to justify maybe. I don’t ******* know.”

However, shortly after the defendant was arrested, prosecutors allege he told police he had “killed a rapist”.

“My intention was to go there and kill the ****,” the defendant reportedly said.

“It’s just so funny how they start screaming for help when you have a knife in your hand.

“I’d tried to get hold of a chainsaw from a shop but they wouldn’t let me buy one because I didn’t have enough ID.

“I wanted to go there and castrate [Mr Merna].”

When detectives were told of Mr Merna’s death, and Taylor was re-arrested on suspicion of murder, the defendant allegedly said: “Does that mean he’s dead?

“Hallelujah. I’ve killed a ******* rapist.”

He then “whooped and shouted” in “celebration”, jurors heard.

Art graduate Mr Merna was an assistant curator at Compton Acres.

The gardens are owned by his parents.

He met Taylor, now 50, while both were inpatients at St Ann’s Hospital in Haven Road, Poole, the court heard.

The two had briefly lived together in Mr Merna’s flat because Taylor was homeless.

However, the arrangement had broken down and Mr Merna had asked the defendant to move out.

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, said Mr Merna had been involved in a short consensual sexual relationship with one of Taylor’s friends.

Taylor, currently a patient at Broadmoor, had also previously been involved in an intimate relationship with the same woman, it was heard.

On the day of Mr Merna’s death, a number of his neighbours called police after they heard a row break out between two men in a ground-floor flat.

One of the men, who spoke “aggressively”, repeatedly called the second man a “rapist”, the court heard.

Shortly after 1.33pm that day, a 999 call was made.

The caller did not give his name, but operators heard a struggle before a male voice said: “Someone is coming at me with a knife.”

The voice then began shouting for help, jurors were told.

When police arrived, they discovered Mr Merna lying motionless in a communal area of the block of flats.

A kitchen knife was lodged in his chest.

He died at the scene.

The trial continues.