Man admits killing couple at Dundee flat - but denies murder

A man accused of committing a double murder today admitted killing a man and woman at their home in Dundee.

Krzysztof Gadecki told a court: "Life is a gift and everyone has a right to defend it no matter whether he is a drug addict or not."

"For the last year I don't feel anything. Everything changed in my life. I killed two people," he said.

The 38-year-old told the High Court in Edinburgh that he had left a jacket, which had belonged to his late brother, at the flat in Rosefield Street occupied by Ronald Kidd and his partner Holly Alexander.

He said he later went to the flat and asked where the jacket was but Mr Kidd started calling him names and wanted to close the door but he blocked the move with his foot.

He said Mr Kidd had a knife and was swinging his arm but he grabbed the blade and managed to get the weapon and started hitting him.

Mr Gadecki, who was giving evidence through a translator, said Mr Kidd had shouted something to Ms Alexander and she came running holding a knife in her hand. He added: "She was coming like a samurai."

He said he pushed her hand back and he hit her twice very quickly and she collapsed.

Mr Gadecki claimed that he was "totally in pieces" after the incident and started crying. "I was totally devastated by it all," he said.

He said he had later returned to the flat where the killings took place to get heroin and pills and took a watch and wallet.

Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson asked him why he had killed Mr Kidd and he replied: "Because life is a gift and I wanted to live. I was scared. It happened too quick. There was no time to think...I was feeling like a soldier in the first line."

Advocate depute Bill MacVicar said that on the day before he killed them he had no money and no drugs and was desperate to get some. But Mr Gadecki said: "No, that's not true. I always arranged something for myself."

The prosecutor asked if he was angry about the jacket that had gone missing and he said: "Maybe not angry, more disappointed because it was my brother's jacket."

Mr Gadecki said that if Mr Kidd started something it was impossible to stop him. He added: "With all respect to him and his family, I won."

He has denied murdering Mr Kidd (40) and Ms Alexander (37) between December 8 and 11 last year at the flat in Rosefield Street.

Mr Gadecki has lodged a special defence of self defence, claiming that he had been assaulted by the deceased.

The trial before Lord Boyd of Duncansby continues