Paedophile's throat cut by drinking partner after admitting he had abused six-year-old, court told

Christopher McMahon admits stabbing acquantaince to death but denies murder

(Rex)

A paedophile was brutally killed inside his own flat after he admitted to his drinking partner he had abused a six-year-old, a court has heard.

David Potter’s body was found lying in a pool of blood five days later after neighbours raised the alarm and police forced the door.

Christopher McMahon, an acquaintance of Mr Potter who spent time drinking with the convicted paedophile in the hours before his death, admits repeatedly stabbing the 50-year-old.

A post-mortem found Mr Potter suffered a series of knife wounds to the neck, including one which had gone through to his spine and others which had severed numerous arteries.

But Mr McMahon, 48, denies murder and said he only launched the vicious attack on his acquaintance after he admitted he had sexually abused a young child.

The jury at the Old Bailey was told that after Mr McMahon slit Mr Potter’s throat he went to his on-off girlfriend’s house, still soaked in blood, and told her: “I’ve done it.”

Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse QC told jurors: “Mr McMahon said he had slit a man’s throat and indeed he had.”

“His clothing and shoes were covered in Mr Potter’s blood and the trainers he was wearing left footprints in blood all over Mr Potter’s flat.

“The question for you will be why Mr McMahon did that.”

Mr Potter had previous convictions for sexual offences against children.

He was killed inside his flat in Tooting, south London, in August last year.

Mr McMahon admits he was the person who stabbed Mr Potter to death.

The court heard Mr McMahon had been carrying a Stanley knife just days before the stabbing while at his girlfriend’s home.

As well as numerous severe knife wounds to the neck, Mr Potter also had defensive injuries to his left arm and hands, the court heard.

Mr McMahon, of no fixed address, denies murder and the trial continues.