Australian man killed gay housemate over sexual advances

An Australian man killed his gay housemate with a statute when the man made drunken sexual advances to him, a court has heard.

Aaron James Johnstone, 29, admits attacking 46-year-old Philip Higgins at their Seaford home in September 2006 but denies he intended to kill him, AAP reports.

Johnstone claims he “lost it” when Higgins drunkenly propositioned him for oral sex and said this was not the first time his housemate had made advances to him.

Prosecutor Mark Rochford SC said Johnstone had carried out a sustained attack on the older man, beating him with an 8kg platypus statue and an office chair.

Higgins suffered numerous injuries, including a fractured bone in his neck and head wounds.

When he was arrested, Johnstone told police that Higgins had come out of a bedroom and suggested that the pair have oral sex.

He said he then began hitting and kicking Higgins before dropping the statue on him.

Mr Rochford said Johnstone’s actions showed he intended to kill or seriously injure Higgins.

Johnstone’s lawyer Paul Desmond said: “The evidence will show that Higgins propositioned Johnstone in his drunken state.”

The trial continues.