‘I need to get this done, the sooner the better’
The Bill producer offered extra cash for speedy hit on partner, court told
A FORMER TV producer wanted his long-term partner killed “the sooner the better” so he could move in with his young lover, a court heard.
David Harris, 68, who worked on The Bill, allegedly tried to hire mechanic Christopher May to bump off Hazel Allinson, also 68 – and offered him extra cash to do it within days.
In a meeting recorded by Mr May played in court, Harris tells him: “This time next week, I can be sitting pretty and so can you. I need to get this done, the sooner the better.”
Mr May told the jury: “He wanted her murdered that week. At any opportunity, he wanted her dead.”
Harris wanted to cash in on their £800,000 home and assets and to start a new life with Ugne Cekaviciute whom he met in a brothel, prosecutors claim.
He contacted Mr May through a mutual friend last year, saying he wanted help collecting a debt.
Mr May, who was training to be a private investigator, said Harris of Amberley, West Sussex, was upfront about his alleged plan when they met. He told the jury: “It wasn’t about debt, it was more serious, and eventually he offered me money to kill his wife.”
At first he thought friends were playing a joke on him, but felt “numb” when he thought Harris was serious, the court heard.
He said: “I don’t know what the guy is capable of. I’ve got a family.
“Going to the police wasn’t really an option because if he did it and got away with it, he was offering someone a lot of money to kill his wife and I didn’t want to be a name on that list. Instead he recorded their second meeting, in which Harris asked if script editor Ms Allinson could be killed when she went into hospital the next week.
Harris said: “I don’t know what that does in terms of security… and how you get through locked doors and that. I’m worried if she comes out of there, she has five or six days convalescing and I don’t know if anything can be done then. That’s why I’m increasing your offer to 150 grand to get it done then.” Mr May emailed Ms Allinson warning of the alleged plan but she told Harris who then cancelled the deal. A second man Harris allegedly approached told police, and an officer posed as a third assassin.
Harris denies soliciting murder, claiming he was researching a thriller he planned to write.
The case continues.
He wanted her murdered that week. At any opportunity, he wanted her dead CHRISTOPHER MAY TELLS JURY OF ALLEGED MURDER PLOT