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Students faced 'inhuman' torture Students faced 'inhuman' torture
(29 minutes later)
The flat where two French students were murdered after a burglary went wrong was a scene of "almost unimaginable horror", the Old Bailey has heard. A flat where two French students were murdered after a burglary went wrong was a scene of "almost unimaginable horror", the Old Bailey has heard.
Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, suffered hundreds of stab wounds in the attack in Sterling Gardens in New Cross, south-east London, last June.Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, suffered hundreds of stab wounds in the attack in Sterling Gardens in New Cross, south-east London, last June.
Dano Sonnex, 23, of Peckham, south London, and Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, deny the murders.Dano Sonnex, 23, of Peckham, south London, and Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, deny the murders.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC described the torture and murder as "inhuman".Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC described the torture and murder as "inhuman".
Mr Aylett said: "To take revenge for the fact that they had been unable to steal money from Mr Ferez, both men were murdered in a way that can only be described as inhuman.Mr Aylett said: "To take revenge for the fact that they had been unable to steal money from Mr Ferez, both men were murdered in a way that can only be described as inhuman.
They had been subjected to an attack of brutal and sustained ferocity - one of them had been stabbed 194 times, the other 50 times Crispin Aylett QC "What the firemen found was a scene of almost unimaginable horror."
"What the firemen found was a scene of almost unimaginable horror," he said. In some instances, a knife had been used with such force that the skull had been penetrated and damage caused to the brain Crispin Aylett QC
Mr Aylett said Mr Sonnex and Mr Farmer burst into the bedsit at about 0530 BST on 29 June, overpowered and bound the two students and demanded their bank card Pin numbers. Mr Aylett said the defendants burst into the bedsit at about 0530 BST on 29 June, overpowered and bound the two students and demanded their bank card numbers.
The students thought it best to co-operate but when the card was retained by a cash machine the men for "revenge", jurors were told. The students thought it best to co-operate but when one of their bank cards was retained by a cash machine the defendants wanted "revenge", jurors were told.
The court heard one of the burglars returned that night to set the flat on fire.The court heard one of the burglars returned that night to set the flat on fire.
'Merciless onslaught'
Mr Aylett said: "The two men, dressed only in their underpants, had been tied up.Mr Aylett said: "The two men, dressed only in their underpants, had been tied up.
"They had been bound at the ankles and the wrists. Their heads had been wrapped with towels."They had been bound at the ankles and the wrists. Their heads had been wrapped with towels.
"They had been subjected to an attack of brutal and sustained ferocity - one of them had been stabbed 194 times, the other 50 times."They had been subjected to an attack of brutal and sustained ferocity - one of them had been stabbed 194 times, the other 50 times.
Family members of the students were present in court 'Merciless onslaught'
"Both of them had been repeatedly stabbed in the head. In some instances, a knife had been used with such force that the skull had been penetrated and damage caused to the brain.""Both of them had been repeatedly stabbed in the head. In some instances, a knife had been used with such force that the skull had been penetrated and damage caused to the brain."
The badly-burnt bodies were found after an explosion at the property.The badly-burnt bodies were found after an explosion at the property.
The biochemistry masters students from Polytech Clermont-Ferrand were weeks away from finishing their research project at Imperial College. The biochemistry masters students from Polytech Clermont-Ferrand were weeks away from finishing a research project at Imperial College.
The court heard they faced a "relentless and merciless onslaught".
'Unmitigated evil'
Jurors were told a neighbour alerted by the explosion had seen a man flee the property.Jurors were told a neighbour alerted by the explosion had seen a man flee the property.
Mr Farmer, who was living with Mr Sonnex at the time, handed himself in days after an e-fit image was released. A witness who was at the police station said his face and hands were badly burned. Mr Farmer, who was living with Mr Sonnex at the time, handed himself in days after an e-fit image was released.
The court heard Mr Sonnex's palm-mark was found on the frame of a foldaway bed and he was also seen on CCTV withdrawing money on the stolen cards. The court heard Mr Sonnex's palm-mark was found on the frame of a foldaway bed and he was also seen on CCTV withdrawing money using one of the stolen bank cards.
The jury heard the two defendants were now blaming each other but Mr Aylett said the crime was a joint enterprise of "unmitigated evil".
Mr Sonnex enjoyed using "gratuitous violence" and had a previous conviction for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent for a stabbing at the age of 16, the jury heard.
Psychiatric helpPsychiatric help
In a robbery last year had allegedly tied up his pregnant foster sister and her boyfriend, the court heard. The jury heard the two defendants were now blaming each other but Mr Aylett said the crime was a joint enterprise of "unmitigated evil".
The boyfriend, who had not pressed charges at the time, has said he will give evidence in this trial. Mr Sonnex enjoyed using "gratuitous violence" and had a previous conviction for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent for a stabbing he carried out at the age of 16, the jury heard.
In a robbery last year had allegedly tied up his pregnant foster sister and her boyfriend, jurors were told.
The court was also told Mr Farmer was a drug addict who had checked into a psychiatric hospital in Woolwich a month before the murders but left after four days, complaining about not getting the "right help".The court was also told Mr Farmer was a drug addict who had checked into a psychiatric hospital in Woolwich a month before the murders but left after four days, complaining about not getting the "right help".
Mr Farmer's break-up with his long-time partner had badly affected him and he attempted suicide twice, Mr Aylett told the court.
Mr Farmer and Mr Sonnex deny murder, arson, false imprisonment and trying to pervert the course of justice.Mr Farmer and Mr Sonnex deny murder, arson, false imprisonment and trying to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Sonnex has admitted one count of burglary at the property on the same date as the murders but Mr Farmer denies a charge of burglary. Mr Sonnex has admitted one count of burglary at the property on the same date as the murders. Mr Farmer denies a charge of burglary.
The trial continues.The trial continues.