Thomas Campbell murder trial: All the evidence heard so far at trial of man allegedly 'tortured to death' as case reaches closing stages
The trial of three people accused of the murder of Thomas Campbell entered its closing stages after a fourth week of evidence. A jury of seven men and five women have been listening to evidence for 19 days as Mr Campbell's ex-wife Coleen Campbell, along with Stephen Cleworth, and Reece Steven stand trial at Bolton Crown Court.
Under questioning, Mr Cleworth told the jury: "John never came across to me like he wanted to hurt this guy. He was on about taking his money. He didn't even seem ar*** about his bird.Mr de la Poer asked Mr Cleworth: "If you steal drugs or cash belonging to a drug dealer from a field, that theft is not going to be reported to the police is it?" "No," the defendant replied.
The jury has heard that Mr Cleworth was seen in a number of different vehicles in the days before Mr Campbell was attacked, on Saturday, July 2 last year. Prosecutors have accepted he was not at the scene of the killing, after CCTV footage of him in a swingers club in Rochdale was recovered. "Years ago, yeah," he said. "Now I won't cross that line. And spend the rest of my life in prison? My priorities have changed."
He told how he has previous convictions in 2014 for three robberies at Co-op travel agents in Middleton, Failsworth and Ashton-under-Lyne. In one incident where he made off with £7,495 as well as more in foreign currency, he was armed with a knife and in another where he left with £15,000 he had an imitation firearm, a BB gun.
Mr Steven told jurors that he was selling drugs, particularly cocaine, and he became friends with Mr Cleworth. He got to know Mr Belfield through Mr Cleworth, and they began 'quite a good drug related relationship', the jury heard. Asked what the purpose of the meeting was, he said: "I think it was just to meet John and get a feel for what it was all about." CCTV footage shows Mr Steven move his right hand under a table. He told jurors: "I was being told how to put a tracker on, and how easy it was."
Mr Steven admitted that later that day, after 11pm, he attended the street where Mr Campbell lived with Mr Belfield. "He asked me to drive him up somewhere," the defendant told jurors. Jurors have heard that Mr Steven sent two messages to Mr Cleworth that day, which read 'make sure you are ready for 8 mate', and 'we’re on'. Mr Steven denied this related to an attack on Mr Campbell, and said it related to cannabis pruning as Mr Cleworth had originally been due to join him.
Prosecutors allege that Mr Belfield was seen on camera making gestures, including an armlock, indicating that he was 'talking about what he was going to be doing to the deceased'. Mr Steven claimed Mr Belfield was actually talking about 'prison stories', and that he was recounting a fight he had previously with another inmate at HMP Lancaster Farms, jurors heard.
"He said to take him to a pub in Stalybridge. He had a drink, I could smell it on him. I didn’t question him because it was John." "I put his number in my phone as ‘Fringy’ as John [Belfield] just had a hair transplant and his hair had all grown all the way down at the front, like it swept across," he said.
When asked by his barrister, Oliver Jarvis, whether he thought Mr Belfield, who he said was a friend of his son from school, was capable of such an attack, he said: "No way." Mr Holland said that Mr Murphy had previously described the men as being 'both short, both bald, one chubbier than the other'. "You didn't say to the police that neither man had a beard," Mr Holland put it to the defendant.
"Are you saying this now to try and help Reece Steven out?," Mr Holland asked. "No," the defendant replied. Mr Holland asked: "You knew they only would have gone to such trouble to change vehicles and get you to drive them if the criminal activities they were involved in were serious, you knew or suspected that didn't you?""Nope," the defendant said. The prosecutor asked: "You knew you were helping them with serious crime, didn't you?" "No," Mr Murphy replied.
"Within seconds, they had spilled large quantities of blood on the driveway," Mr de la Poer said. "There was no threat, there was no demand. They struck him first, asked questions later. "He was never a man who would have gone quietly. Quite the reverse, he was an obviously strong man, capable of violence, who was thriving in the dog eat dog world of cocaine dealing."
Mr Johnson said she never wanted her ex to suffer harm, even after she learned he'd been unfaithful. "When she found out he was having sex with her best friend, she attacked her car, not him," he said. "He is nice when he wants something." But the KC argued any information which Ms Campbell could provide would be 'very limited'.
Mr Johnson argued that the prosecution had made an 'important concession' in their closing speech. Earlier on Friday, prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer KC said: "In the case of the three defendants on counts 1 and 2 , the evidence demonstrates that they all agreed to rob Thomas Campbell and they all knew that would inevitably mean a very violent confrontation.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Prosecution 'clutching at straws' in trial of Thomas Campbell's ex, jury told'Of course she didn't want him dead or tortured' ... prosecutors 'clutching at straws' in case against Thomas Campbell's ex-wife, murder trial told
Weiterlesen »
Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas shares which past star wants to returnWaterloo Road actor Adam Thomas reveals which past star wants to return
Weiterlesen »
Paris Olympics: Allowing Russian athletes to compete 'doing more for peace', says IOC boss Thomas BachA move to enable athletes from the country to participate at the 2024 Games as so-called 'neutrals' has faced a backlash from Ukraine and its allies following the invasion by Russia, which is approaching its first anniversary.
Weiterlesen »
Chelsea, Spurs, Man Utd target given '£40m' price-tag after rejecting two contract offers - Football365'He must be at least £40m plus. If he had three years it would be £70m.'
Weiterlesen »
Royal Navy sailor found dead at Cornwall baseLeading Hand Benjamin Thomas was discovered at the HMS Raleigh shore establishment at Torpoint.
Weiterlesen »