Murder victim a good friend, says suspect

THE suspected ringleader in the alleged murder of Jimmy Prout claims he “wasn’t thinking straight” when he was “persuaded” by others to dump the body.

Zahid Zaman is standing trial alongside Ann Corbett, Kay Rayworth and Myra Wood for the murder of the dad-of-two in Percy Main last year.

Prosecutors claim Jimmy was subjected to humiliating violence, which jurors have heard “belongs in the Dark Ages”.

All four defendants deny murder deny murder and causing or allowing Jimmy’s death.

Jurors had previously heard Jimmy died in his house on February 9, 2016 and all four of them helped in dressing the body and moving it in a wheelchair before dumping it on wasteland near the A187, where it lay for more than six weeks.

Giving evidence for the fourth day, Zaman claimed he “wasn’t thinking straight” when he agreed to “help the others” cover up Jimmy’s death and dump his body.

Paul Greaney QC, prosecuting, said: “You say you hadn’t done anything to contribute to Jimmy’s death?”

Zaman, also known as Zed, responded: “No, sir.”

Mr Greaney said: “He [Jimmy] was a good friend? He was like you brother?” Zaman replied: “Yes, sir.” Mr Greaney said: “But, with a few minutes conversation, you were persuaded to dump his body by the side of a road?”

Zaman said: “I was not thinking straight at the time, sir.”

Mr Greaney added: “The four of you, with you as leader, had killed him, hadn’t you?”

Zaman said: “That’s not true, sir.”

Zaman, 43, Wood, 50, Rayworth, 56, all of St Stephen’s Way and Corbett, 26, of no fixed address, all deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

The trial continues.