NH man accused of beating landlord to death for motorcycle claims killing was in self-defense

NH man accused of killing landlord for motorcycle

BRENTWOOD, N.H. — Prosecutors say a New Hampshire man obsessed with getting a Harley-Davidson motorcycle beat his landlord to death, assumed his identity and stole his pickup truck so he could trade it for the bike.

The attorney for defendant Paul McDonald doesn’t dispute her client killed Richard Wilcox. But she says he did it in self-defense after waking up to find Wilcox raping him.

Wilcox was found dead in June 2008 in the basement of the Danville home where McDonald lived as his tenant. He had wounds authorities say were caused by a hammer or ax. His skull was crushed.

Prosecutors say McDonald traded his landlord’s new truck for the motorcycle and an older truck and fled to Vermont, where he was arrested.

The courtroom portion of the trial got under way Monday after jurors visited the home.

(This version CORRECTS spelling of identity in lede.)