**Jury Considers Verdict in Swansea Broken Bottle Murder Case**
The jury in the high-profile Swansea trial involving the death of Joshua Norman has now retired to deliberate on the fate of two men accused of his murder. After two weeks of harrowing testimony and complex evidence, the jurors at Swansea Crown Court will decide whether Paul Rosser and Joshua Cullen are guilty of causing Mr Norman’s fatal neck wound during an alleged violent confrontation in September 2024.
Joshua Norman, a 27-year-old father, died at the scene in the Hafod area after suffering a severe throat injury near the notorious tunnel linking Upper Strand and Cwm Road. Emergency services and passers-by attempted to save his life, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The case has reverberated throughout Swansea, casting a spotlight on the struggles with drug misuse and violent crime affecting parts of the city.
Rosser, 49, and his 32-year-old nephew Cullen are accused of murder, a charge both men firmly deny. The prosecution claimed the fateful events unfolded after the trio, allegedly searching for drugs in the early hours of 11 September 2024, became embroiled in a dispute. According to prosecutors, tensions escalated following a car journey and culminated in a brutal attack after the group walked through the tunnel towards Cwm Road. It is alleged that Rosser smashed a cider bottle and used the jagged weapon to stab Mr Norman, with Cullen “assisting or encouraging” the assault.
After the incident, both men reportedly left the fatally wounded Norman and made their way to Cullen’s nearby flat. Prosecutors paint a picture of the pair calmly walking away while their companion lay dying in the street—a narrative the defence teams strongly refute.
Neither Rosser nor Cullen took to the witness stand. Rosser’s legal team argued that he acted in self-defence, contending that Norman had become belligerent after taking drugs and had headbutted the rear window of the vehicle. Rosser’s barrister, Allan Compton KC, suggested that Norman’s lunge towards Rosser led to the accidental wounding with the broken bottle. The defence underlined the chaotic influence of significant alcohol and drug consumption by all parties, warning the jury not to mistake tragic consequences for deliberate intent.
Meanwhile, Cullen maintains that Norman was the aggressor, insisting he did not contribute to the fatal injury and further stating he had been threatened during the altercation. Andrew Jones KC, representing Cullen, described the case as resting on “circumstantial” and incomplete evidence, criticising the prosecution for inviting speculation rather than providing definitive proof. He emphasised the absence of any direct evidence tying Cullen to the stabbing, suggesting that mere presence at the scene does not equate to guilt.
Throughout the trial, the jury was shown a patchwork of CCTV footage tracking the men’s movements before and after the killing. However, the crucial moments of the fatal encounter were not recorded, creating what the defence has described as significant uncertainty.
The jury also heard testimony from witnesses, including a delivery driver and local residents who observed post-incident disturbances — with one bystander reporting a man shouting: “I have murdered my best mate”. Toxicology reports were presented, revealing high levels of drugs and alcohol in the bodies of those involved, and references were made to the defendants’ previous convictions. Rosser has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for assault and burglary, whilst Cullen has previous offences for robbery and wounding.
The outcome of this case now rests in the hands of the jury, who face the difficult task of sifting through conflicting accounts, circumstantial evidence and the tragic loss of life. Both men maintain their innocence, denying not only murder but also the lesser charge of manslaughter.
As Swansea grapples with the after-effects of this disturbing crime, the trial serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive cycle of drugs and violence that can blight communities. The proceedings continue under the supervision of Judge Geraint Walters, with the city awaiting the jury’s verdict in this deeply tragic case.