THE man accused of murdering his former boss was "hostile" and "angry", but not suffering from a psychological disorder at the time of the alleged offence, a court heard.

The jury at Newport crown court, heard Russell Carter, who denies murdering company director, Kingsley Monk, and attempting to murder co-workers Gethin Heal, Robert Lewis and Nathan Taylor, is a self-confessed loner who does not get along with others.

The court heard evidence from consultant forensic psychiatrist Phillip Joseph yesterday, who said Carter was uncooperative during assessment and failed to answer questions about the incident at the Driverline 247 premises in New Inn, Pontypool, last October.

He said Carter’s actions were not impulsive but said he planned to go the offices to get money he thought he was owed by Mr Monk.

Carter, of Penrhos Crescent, Rumney, Cardiff, told him he had no intention of killing or harming Mr Monk and said he couldn’t remember the “murder” because he blacked out, the court was told.

Dr Joseph said Carter became hostile and increasingly angry when asked about the incident, raising his voice and using intimidating behaviour.

Carter told Dr Joseph he felt insecure and worried about life but denied he was an aggressive person.

He told prison officers he swallowed staples, cut his wrists and had suicidal thoughts when he was remanded at Cardiff prison because he felt he had failed his family.

No evidence of this was found on his custody log.

The court heard Carter spent time in a psychiatric hospital during his childhood but there was no medical evidence to suggest he suffered from any psychological disorders as an adult.

Dr Joseph said in his opinion Carter was not suffering any abnormality of mind, which would substantially diminish his responsibility for committing the offence.

The jury previously heard Carter bound and gagged the men at gun-point during a four-hour ordeal before setting the offices on fire.

Accused is 'manipulative liar' - prosecution

The court previously heard from consultant psychiatrist Dr Sukhinder Shergill who said Carter was suffering from paranoid and antisocial personality disorders.

Cross-examining Dr Shergill yesterday, David Aubrey QC prosecuting, suggested Carter was nothing more than a manipulative liar.

Mr Aubrey questioned Dr Shergill’s conclusion that Carter was unable to form relationships and highlighted his 11-year marriage to his wife and close bond with his daughter.

He said Carter knew exactly what he was going to do on October 20 and said he made the decision with a clear mind.