Debt-ridden Elton John impersonator, 43, ‘tried to kill his parents during violent row about selling family home’
Mark Ruck is accused of brutally attacking his parents after they refused to sell the semi-detached property so he could raise money to go on a paramedics course
AN Elton John impersonator tried to murder his dad and stabbed his mum during a violent row about selling the family home after getting into debt, a court heard.
Mark Ruck, 43, is accused of brutally attacking his parents after they refused to sell the semi-detached property so he could raise money to go on a paramedics course.
A court heard he stabbed his mum Bedelia, 70, in the arm with a lock knife before repeatedly slashing dad Michael, 72, in the head on September 6 last year.
Ruck - who has appeared on TV performing as Elton John -has admitted wounding his dad with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding his mother.
But the tribute singer denies attempting to murder his dad and went on trial at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Robert Price said Ruck stabbed Michael with "some force" in the forehead after threatening to "burn down" the family home in Redhill, Hereford.
Mr Price added: "Before he did that he was threatening to kill his father and after he did that, he was expressing the hope that his father was dead.
"The only sensible interpretation that can be applied to those basic facts is that Mark Ruck was intent on ending his father's life."
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The court heard Ruck had lived with his parents at the council home property for 30 years after the three jointly bought the property.
But the defendant took out a second mortgage without their knowledge and returned home drunk asking them to sell it.
Ruck told his mum Bedelia he was going to sell the property to fund a paramedics course, but she said she didn't want to and burst into tears, jurors were told.
Mr Price added: "Money problems were weighing heavily on his mind and must have been a sourced of frustration and anger."
Ruck then allegedly called him mum "pathetic" before going to drink in the kitchen, the court was told.
When confronted by his parents, Mr Price said Ruck told them if he couldn't sell it, he would "burn it down while you are in it and kill both of you".
Michael went to his shed and Belinia went to bed, but Ruck appeared in her room with the knife and allegedly said he would used it on his dad.
Belinia got up, and as she tried to get past her son he stabbed at her, leaving her with a 1cm cut on her arm, jurors were told.
He then went to the shed and called his dad "thick and stupid" before he stabbed him in the face three times.
Giving evidence, Michael said he could see his son was about to "kick off" because he looked "angry and vicious" and his "eyes were popping out".
Mr Price said Ruck added: "I wish you and mum were dead. I will kill both of you."
Michael was able to pull down a large machete he had brought back from Singapore in 1965 and keep Ruck away.
The court was told Michael was treated at hospital for head injuries and is still suffering trauma as a result of the attack.
Jurors were shown footage of the attack captured on a neighbour's CCTV.
When the resident confronted Ruck to calm him down, he said he told him his parents were alive but wished they were dead.
Ruck then drove off in his car but police stopped him and found he was over the drink drive limit.
Officers later found a county court judgement for £23,102 in Ruck's room after he took out a second mortgage and got into massive arrears.
The court heard after being arrested Ruck told police: "Its fine, good, put me down for 10 years, boy's that'll do me."
He admits stabbed his parents but denied intent to kill.
The trial continues.
Earlier this month a pensioner, 95, was charged with attempted murder after a woman in her 80s fought for her life in hospital after being found severely injured at a suburban house.
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