Court silence of boyfriend ‘who killed star’s daughter with drug’
THE rapper boyfriend accused of killing actor John Michie’s daughter refused to take the stand at his manslaughter trial yesterday.
Ceon Broughton is accused of giving Louella Fletcher-Michie, 24, a “bumped up” dose of party drug 2C-P, then failing to get medical help as she died of an overdose.
Holby City star Mr Michie, 62, and his family watched from the public gallery as Stephen Kamlish QC said Broughton, 29, would not be giving evidence.
Judge Mr Justice Goose told jurors at Winchester Crown Court they could “take inference” from his “failure” to take the stand.
Prosecutors say Broughton gave the class A drug to Miss Fletcher-Michie at the Bestival music festival at Lulworth Castle, Dorset, in September 2017. He recorded her as she screamed like a “wild animal”, hit herself repeatedly, tried to eat thorns and rubbed them across her arms and face, the court heard.
It is suggested he even continued filming her on his phone after she had died.
The medical tent was just over 400 yards away, but Broughton did not get help because he was serving a suspended sentence and was likely to be jailed, the prosecution said.
He told police Mr Michie, 62, and his wife Carol, 68, who had made a desperate 130-mile dash to the scene from north London, told him instead to find someone in a high-visibility jacket.
Mr Kamlish told the court yesterday: “The defence will not be giving, and will not be calling, any evidence.”
Mr Justice Goose asked: “Have you advised the defendant that this is his opportunity to give his defence? Having been advised, is he aware that not giving evidence, it may be open to the jury to draw inference from his failure, as is properly directed by me?”
Mr Kamlish confirmed Broughton, of Enfield, north London, had been advised.
Grisly “live” iPhone images taken by Broughton at 11.25pm showed a lifeless Miss FletcherMichie lying on her back with bloodied hands.
Broughton denies manslaughter and supplying class A drugs.
The trial continues.