Unanswered questions of body-in-the-bin murder
PRECISELY why a vulnerable man with learning disabilities was murdered after being lured to his killer’s home remains unknown today.
Paul Watkins battered Craig Eade with a hammer, kicked and stamped on him, choked him until he thought he was dead then stabbed him through the jugular when he realised he was still breathing.
A court heard Watkins then bound the 23-year-old with cable ties, wrapped his body in a quilt and pillow case and dumped it in a wheelie bin.
But exactly why he carried out the horrifying murder is unknown, although the authorities think it may have been because of unfounded internet rumours.
Drug addict Watkins was then caught burgling his neighbour and after being arrested told police “When you find out what I’ve done I will be doing 25 years”.
And as he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years, he gave a judge at Newcastle Crown Court the thumbs up.
Craig’s devastated mum, Sharon Eade, told in a victim impact statement how the loss of her son has shattered her family.
She said: “When it was confirmed Craig was dead my world fell apart.
“As a family we will never get over what this inhuman being has done to us by taking Craig away in such a cruel manner.
“In his last moments he was tortured then disposed of like a piece of rubbish. No-one should die like he did.
“We can’t bear the details of what happened to our beloved son.
“We were deprived of a last chance to tell him we loved him and give him a kiss goodbye.
“For us, no sentence can ever be enough for the lifetime of pain and hurt we now have to face.
“I hope my son can rest in peace now. At least I now know no-one can hurt him or take advantage of him again.
“Our lives will never be complete again.”
Craig was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was three and was left with damage to his brain stem and learning difficulties as a result.
His mum, said: “He survived and this makes his untimely death so much the harder.
“He had learning difficulties as a result and brain stem damage. This made him vulnerable and I have witnessed people taking advantage of his kindness and disability throughout his life.
“I have always thought of Craig as my baby and his dad and I have always been protective of him and made sure he was ok.
“We had so many happy memories of Craig but there were so many more to be had.
“He was a lovely little boy, always polite and smiling. His first proper sentence was ‘I love you mam.’
“He was a cheeky, harmless little boy.”
The court heard Craig, who lived at Durham Place, Deckham, Gateshead, had been the subject of postings on Facebook making allegations against him and as a consequence there were responses about people looking to confront him.
On Friday February 24 he was assaulted by a number of men and needed hospital treatment for cuts and bruises.
And on his way home from hospital with his girlfriend he had to run and hide from a group of selfappointed vigilantes in a car who were looking for him.
On Sunday February 26 Watkins turned up at Craig’s home and lured him to his flat with the offer of drugs. Craig was reported missing two days later.
Then, on February 28, Watkins’ neighbours caught him burgling their home and detained him until police arrived.
After being taken to Forth Banks police station, in Newcastle, he told officers: “When you find out what I’ve done I will be doing 25 years.” and he told officers he had killed someone.
When further quizzed by police he said he had “found out bits and bobs” about Craig.
Jolyon Perks, prosecuting said: “He said he confronted him about it and they argued.
“He said he had hit then choked Mr Eade before tying him up and at that stage he believed him to be dead.
“When he realised he was not, he took a knife and stabbed him to the throat.
“At the time of the killing he had been aware of accusations within the community that the deceased was alleged to be responsible for robberies and a sexual assault.
“He told the police the rumours he heard got him up a height so he decided to confront him by getting him to come to the address.”
Watkins said when Craig turned up they smoked crack cocaine before he launched his attack.
Mr Perks said: “The defendant challenged him about the rumours, which had been denied.
“The defendant took a hammer from the table and struck him twice to the head.
“He said the deceased curled up defensively at which point he continued to strike him with the hammer before kicking and stamping on him to the body.
“He said he then put him in a choking hold for a minute.
“When he didn’t believe him to be breathing, he moved him into the back bedroom and began to wrap him up.
“When he realised the deceased was not dead he used a four inch knife to stab him to the side of the neck.
“He said he had tied him with cable ties (when he was unconscious or dead).”
After the murder Watkins went and bought more crack cocaine and then slept while Craig’s body lay in his home.
Watkins told police he was sorry for Craig’s family, saying: “It’s an inexcusable thing, that’s the reason I’m coughing to it.”
He said he was unaware Craig had learning difficulties and mental health problems.
Craig’s body was discovered in the wheelie bin in a back lane between Northbourne Street and Inskip Ter-
race, Deckham, Gateshead, on March 1. His hands and legs were tied.
He died from the knife wound but the strangulation was also capable of causing his death.
The court heard Craig had a global learning disability and ADHD as well as other mental health issues.
Watkins, 36, of Northbourne Street, who has 107 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to murder and unrelated offences of burglary and possessing heroin with intent.
Judge Paul Sloan QC told him: “The attack was brutal and sustained.
“The offence involved you taking the law into your own hands, taking it upon yourself to deliver retribution when you had no justification for doing so.”
Toby Hedworth QC, defending, said the murder was “needless” and “inexcusable”
He added: “The defendant is mortified about what he did. He feels very keenly for his own family and Mr Eade’s family. We submit that is genuine remorse. There were swirling around suggestions of various things Mr Eade was supposed to have done.”
After the case, Craig’s family said: “Craig was a much loved son, brother, uncle and nephew. He was a very happy lad with a big heart. We loved him and will always miss him. The one thing that gives us comfort is knowing that the person responsible is off the streets, we hope for good.”