The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
MurDEr ACCusED hAD ‘list of potEntiAl Extortion tArgEts’
Court: Peterborough man denies murdering Oxford historian
The man accused of stabbing an Oxford historian to death as he robbed him of a £50,000 classic novel rang his teenage son to complain of having a bad day hours after the frenzied attack, a court has heard. Michael Danaher allegedly stabbed rare book trader Adrian Greenwood to death, possibly torturing him for information, before making off with a first edition of The Wind In The Willows published in 1908, Oxford Crown Court was told.
The 50-year-old, of Hadrians Court, Peterborough, also concocted a “make-believe tale” to explain away cuts on his fingers and face to his 15-year-old son, whomayhave beenpresentasheputtherare Kenneth Grahame classic up for auction on internet site eBay the following evening, prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC said.
Mr Saxby said: “His dad made up some story about being attacked in Southend by two men half his age.
“What he said to his son was that he had been the victim of a theft, while also the victim of some kind of assault.”
The body of the Oxford University-educated academic was discovered with stab wounds by his cleaner in the hall of his homeinIffleyRoad, Oxford, the following day.
The court was also told Danaher, ( 50), compiled a list of high-profile targets for theft, robberyandransomdemands.
MrGreenwood’snamewas found on a list on the defendant’s laptopandmobilephone.
Also on the list, under the heading “Enterprises”, were high- profile “people with means” i ncluding Jeffrey Archer and Kate Moss, from whom he was planning to get money, Mr Saxby said.
This list was“efficient, and considered and really quite brutal”, reading like “aneveryday list of people to see, things to do”, the prosecutor told the court.
Danaher planned to get this money by either stealing, robbing the targets’ homes or by demanding a ransom by kidnapping an occupant, Mr Saxby said.
Mr Saxby added a stun gun was found at Danaher’s flat when he was arrested on April 10 after police tracked Mr Greenwood’s phone to the location.
A post- mortem examination showed Mr Greenwood died from multiple stab wounds to the chest and neck and had defensive wounds to the hands, the court heard.
Hours after the murder, Danaher accessed his ‘Enterprises’ list, presumably to remove Mr Greenwood’s name, jurors were told.
Danaher denies the murder of Adrian Greenwood on April 6.
Danaher is claiming selfdefence, andhasadmittedkilling Mr Greenwood, Mr Saxby said.
The trial continues.