Wife ‘diverted CCTV cameras while her husband killed a homeless man’
Shopping centre security guard who made sure attack was not filmed shares murder charge
‘Sarah Finnie wanted her husband to punish Mr Richardson swiftly for what he had said and done to her’
‘They wanted the attack to be quick and effective. They also wanted to escape detection for the crime in prospect’
A SHOPPING centre security guard diverted CCTV cameras while her husband attacked and killed a homeless man, a court heard.
Sarah Finnie, who worked at a shopping centre in Grimsby, Lincs, is alleged to have used a surveillance system to track down Anthony Richardson, 45, before calling her husband, who later killed him.
Mr Richardson, nicknamed “Tosh” had reportedly been thrown out of the retail complex by Mrs Finnie after becoming abusive towards her.
Following the altercation Finnie called her husband Marc who decided that “enough was enough” and went to confront Mr Richardson that day, Sheffield Crown Court was told. The court also heard that Mrs Finnie had previously received abuse from Mr Richardson.
The attack happened near to the entrance of the Freshney Place shopping centre on January 15, when Mrs Finnie identified Mr Richardson on CCTV.
It is claimed that she then made sure the camera was pointed the other way when Mr Finnie approached him outside Halifax bank.
The court was told that she had radioed CCTV operator Daniel Tinmurth claiming to have seen a suspicious man in order to divert the cameras away from her husband moments before he attacked.
Tim Roberts, prosecuting, said: “They wanted the attack to be quick and effective. They also wanted to escape detection for the crime in prospect. They knew only too well about the cameras in the town centre.”
He added that her alleged in- terference with the camera is “critical proof of the intention which she shared with her husband to inflict serious harm on Mr Richardson in swift punishment for his recent behaviour towards her”.
Mr Finnie first kneed Mr Richardson in the face before punching him twice in the head. He then left him unresponsive and unconscious on the pavement. He later died at hospital from a head injury.
Mr and Mrs Finnie, of Grimsby, are accused of murdering Mr Richardson. Marc Finnie admits he attacked him, but denies murder.
The court was told that Mrs Finnie had apparently known Mr Richardson for 10 years and they had exchanged a number of insults over that time. Mr Richardson had taunted Mrs Finnie outside the shopping centre about her personal life, as well as calling her a murderer, which related to the death of a mutual friend who died from a heroin overdose.
Mr Roberts said: “She found herself more sensitive to Mr Richardson’s habitual abuse. She called Marc Finnie to tell him about the abuse.
“She knew her husband’s personality and she wanted him to come down to physically confront Mr Richardson.”
Mr Roberts said that the person responsible for the killing was Mr Finnie, adding: “He admits it was him that was the attacker and the attack was unlawful and unnecessary.”
Addressing the jury he added: “The issue you will decide is whether Mr Finnie is guilty of murder or guilty only of manslaughter, as he suggests.
“Sarah Finnie wanted her husband to punish Mr Richardson swiftly for what he had said and done to her that day.”
The pair are on trial alongside Gary Clarke, a fellow security guard who worked with Mrs Finnie. Mr Clarke, 36, was seen by CCTV watching the attack from the entrance of the shopping centre before going to join Mrs Finnie inside. However, the court heard that he had told police he did not see the incident when questioned. He denies assisting offenders
Prosecutors claimed Mr Clarke deliberately falsified his statements to the police. The trial continues.