'Sadist in Nazi garb killed men for fun'

A sadistic and predatory homosexual became a serial killer for fun, stabbing four men in murders which left him feeling "at peace", a court was told yesterday.

Peter Moore's wardrobe had strong Nazi influences, Alex Carlile, QC, for the prosecution, said at Mold Crown Court in north Wales. He liked to wear black leather when lurking at the meeting places of homosexuals. "The man in black - black thoughts and the blackest of deeds," Mr Carlile said.

Moore, 50, of Kinmel Bay, Flintshire, admitted during protracted police questioning to more than 17 attacks over 20 years, none of them homicidal.

But in May 1994, his mother died, an event which may have triggered "an extremely ugly change in character", Mr Carlile said.

Moore, owner of four small cinemas , denies four charges of murder. The killings were carried out during three months beginning in September last year.

Mr Carlile said Moore had met the victims by chance. He expected to be caught after ending his killing spree with the murder of his bank manager.

His first victim, Henry Roberts, 56, coincidentally shared with his killer an enthusiasm for Nazi paraphernalia. Mr Roberts tried to protest he was not Jewish as Moore launched 27 blows with a combat knife he had bought a few days earlier for pounds 25. The body was left in the yard outside Mr Roberts' isolated home near Valley, Anglesey.

A month later, Keith Randles, 49, a security manager, opened the door of his caravan late at night on a construction site near Mona, Anglesey, to be attacked by Moore, who stabbed him 12 times. Moore later told police that when Mr Randles asked why he was being attacked, he was told it was for fun. "He looked nonplussed," Moore allegedly had said.

In December, Tony Davies, 35, drove to Pensarn Beach near Colwyn Bay, a meeting place near his home for homosexual men. Moore told detectives that he had been cruising the area when he saw Mr Davies expose himself.

Mr Carlile said Moore killed him with six stabs Blood found on the beach was matched by DNA profile to Moore. The wound had been caused as Mr Davies fought for his life.

When police searched Moore's home, where he lived alone, they found property belonging to his victims in the house and in a garden pond. A knife bearing traces of the blood of a number of men was found in a bag belonging to Moore. It was similar to the blade scientific evidence would claim was used on the four men.

Moore's other victim was killed between October and December 1995. Edward Carthy, 28, from Birkenhead, was a drug addict and drunk whom Moore met in a homosexual bar in Liverpool, Mr Carlile said. The pair drove to North Wales, Mr Carthy drunk but trying to escape from Moore's van. He was stabbed to death and buried in dense forest near Ruthin.

The trial continues.