‘This is nothing to do with me’
MURDER ACCUSED EX-WIFE DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN DEATH
THE former wife of a man found ‘tortured to death’ was ‘visibly shaking’ and looked ‘shocked and confused’ when she was arrested on suspicion of his murder, a jury heard.
Coleen Campbell denied having any involvement in the death of her ex-husband Thomas Campbell as she was questioned by police.
“This is nothing to do with me,” she told officers who arrived at their former marital home in Clayton, east Manchester.
She and two men have both pleaded not guilty to murder and are standing trial at Bolton Crown Court.
Ms Campbell, 38, Stephen Cleworth, 38, and Reece Steven, 29, are all also charged with conspiring to rob Mr Campbell, an allegation which they all deny.
Mr Campbell, 38, was attacked at his home in Mossley, Tameside, after 11pm on Saturday, July 2, the jury has heard.
He was ‘pounced on’ by three men before being carried into his home and tortured for two hours, the prosecution alleges.
They claim John Belfield, 28, who is not before the court and is thought to have fled the country, is alleged to have been the ‘mastermind’ of the attack.
He is said to have plotted to rob Mr Campbell after reading an M.E.N. article about Mr Campbell and his ex-wife’s ‘wealthy lifestyle.’
It is alleged that Mr Belfield, Mr Steven and a third unknown man were present in Mossley on July 2. Ms Campbell, who was married to Mr Campbell for 10 years, is alleged to have passed on information about her ex-husband’s whereabouts.
On the tenth day of the trial, the jury heard ‘agreed facts’ in the case, including details of the arrests and interviews of the defendants. Ms Campbell was arrested on July 13 at her home.
She was not present when police arrived, but returned home after a member of the public called her. “On her arrival the police arrested and cautioned Coleen Campbell on suspicion of murder,” prosecutor Richard Holland said.
“She was visibly shaking and looked shocked and confused. She stated ‘this is nothing to do with me.’”
Ms Campbell was interviewed by police later that afternoon, and twice the following day. She denied any involvement in her exhusband’s death.
Karl Murphy, 50, a fourth man who is on trial, denies participating in the activities of an organised crime group. He is accused of driving Mr Campbell’s alleged murderers to Mossley on July 2.
Ms Campbell, of Bamford Street, Clayton, Mr Cleworth, of Charles Street, Heywood, and Mr Steven, of Poplar Street, Middleton, have pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy to rob.
Mr Murphy, of Lancaster Road, Denton, denies participating in the activities of an organised crime group.