A PARANOID schizophrenic accused of killing his flatmate with an axe had left hospital days before the incident, a court has heard.

Abdullah Jama's blood-soaked body was discovered by friends at the flat in Chiswell Square, Blackheath, on May 4 last year.

He had suffered at least 15 wounds to his head and neck caused by a heavy weapon.

His accused flatmate Ahmed Ali, aged 36, is not fit to plead or face a murder trial but an Old Bailey jury must still decide whether or not he killed his flatmate.

The court heard how friends of Mr Jama, a 45-year-old Somalian asylum-seeker and dealer of a legal high called khat, became concerned after he failed to appear as usual at a Somalian social club in Anglesea Road, Woolwich.

On finding the body they called the police who discovered a bloodied hand axe near the deceased and a note on the dead man's chest with handwriting matching Ali's.

The rambling letter included the words: “I told doctors and nurses I am not safe.”

It also said: “I do know what I do but I am innocent”.

Police also found a pair of beige trousers, allegedly belonging to Ali, which were spattered with the victim's blood.

Ali was arrested after returning to the flat and taken to see a forensic medical examiner.

Prosecutor Anthony Orchard said: “Mr Ali told the doctor that he was hearing voices which were going to harm him, making him feel panicky.”

The accused man said that he had been at a bus stop looking for butts to smoke at the time of his arrest and had not slept or eaten for two weeks.

Before the incident Ali had been a voluntary patient at a Sheffield mental hospital.

He was discharged on March 31 last year and prescribed a powerful drug called Clozapine before traveling down to his Blackheath flat.

But the court heard how on April 29, days before the victim's body was found, Ali was taken into Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich.

Mr Orchard told the court: “He was in a distressed state. He claimed he was tired and not taking his medication.”

The accused man was kept in overnight but left the following evening before he could be transferred back to Sheffield.

Ali is appearing at the Old Bailey via a videolink from Sheffield Crown Court.

The trial continues.