‘I’ve been framed...’
MAN TELLS MURDER TRIAL HE DID NOT KILL DAD OUTSIDE HIS HOME
A MAN accused of killing a father outside his home has told a jury that he has been ‘framed’ for a murder he did not commit.
Tyrone Patrick, 33, denies killing Mike Grimshaw, who was stabbed to death outside his home on Royton Avenue, Sale Moor, on July 20, 2017.
The 34-year-old was rushed to hospital after receiving a 12cm stab wound to the neck, but later died.
It is alleged by the prosecution that Tyrone Patrick stabbed Mr Grimshaw following a row between the defendant and Mr Grimshaw’s fiancee, Michelle Pook.
As his defence case began at Manchester Crown Court, Mr Patrick told jurors he had been ‘framed’ for the death of Mr Grimshaw.
He told the court that it was instead another man present – Aaron Robinson – who had inflicted the fatal stab wound on Mr Grimshaw.
Mr Patrick said he believed he had been set up by residents on the Royton Avenue estate after his regular cocaine use had caused him to become ‘a bit of a nuisance.’
The court heard that in the summer of 2017, Mr Patrick had developed what he described as a ‘mental addiction’ to cocaine.
When asked by his barrister, Stephen Meadowcroft QC, how he would describe his behaviour during the summer of 2017, Mr Patrick said: “Not very attractive – probably due to the drugs, which I didn’t appreciate at the time but do now.”
Mr Patrick said he had known Aaron Robinson for 12 years but had not seen much of him until May 2017, when the pair began spending time together.
He told the court that he and Mr Robinson would regularly take cocaine when together.
On July 20, Mr Patrick claims that he and Mr Robinson, along with another friend, had been at a female’s property in the Sale Moor area. In a statement previously read to the court, the female said she had asked the group to leave and stated that Tyrone Patrick had appeared ‘more agitated’ than the other two.
The group left the property and wandered the streets of Sale Moor before eventually arriving on Royton Avenue.
They came across a man well-known in the area called ‘Jibbs’ – otherwise known as James O’Reilly, claimed Mr Patrick.
It was at this point that, Mr Patrick says, Mike Grimshaw’s fiancee Michelle Pook became involved – telling the group to leave Mr O’Reilly alone.
He told the court that as the group reached where Ms Pook had been standing, she called for her fiancee to come out.
Mr Patrick said he had seen Mike Grimshaw ‘a few times’ round the local area but did not know him personally. Aaron Robinson and the other male were nearby at this point, claimed Mr Patrick.
“I remember seeing Aaron Robinson step in and strike him with his right hand,” Mr Patrick said. “Mike staggered back and put his hands up towards his throat. I just thought Aaron had thrown a punch.” Mr Patrick told the court that it was Aaron Robinson who fled the scene and claimed that he later saw Mr Robinson with a knife.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Rob Hall told the jury of a number of Mr Patrick’s previous convictions, including possession of a ‘flick’ knife in 2003 and an incident which involved holding a person at gunpoint in 2006.
Mr Hall suggested to Mr Patrick that his cocaine use had caused him to throw his weight around and bully people he came into contact with.
When asked by Mr Hall if he believed being a ‘nuisance’ warranted reason to frame someone for murder, Mr Patrick replied: “I don’t know why they framed me for a murder I have not committed.”
Proceeding
I don’t know why they framed me for a murder I have not committed Tyrone Patrick