Women ‘cleaned scene after teen was stabbed’
AMUM and daughter are accused of cleaning up their doorstep to ‘conceal’ a crime after a teenage boy was allegedly murdered.
Callum Riley, 17, died after being stabbed on Heywood’s Darnhill estate, a trial heard.
Tony Adams, 34; Dale Heywood, 26; and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons have all pleaded not guilty to his murder.
Two women are also on trial, accused of assisting an offender, after allegedly ‘cleaning’ the scene outside their home of blood and glass. Mr Adams’ partner Michelle Conaghan, 35, and their daughter, Niomi Conaghan, 19, both deny the charge.
Prosecutors allege the pair were trying to ‘conceal’ that a serious crime had allegedly been committed. On the second day of the trial, Nicholas de la Poer KC told the jury: “The prosecution says you can be sure that Michelle Conaghan and Niomi Conaghan both sought to clean up the doorstep at Atholl Drive in order to conceal that a serious crime had been committed there.
“The prosecution says you can be sure that both knew from the blood and the conversation immediately afterwards that a serious crime of violence had been committed. As we understand it, both admit cleaning the doorstep shortly after Callum Riley ran away.”
Mr Riley was knifed in the leg in the doorway of Mr Adams’ home on Atholl Drive, at 5am on September 17, 2022, the court heard. Prosecutors claim he was ‘probably’ stabbed by Mr Heywood. Mr Riley and a friend had both turned up at Mr Adams’ home ‘intent on taking revenge’, the jury has heard.
It followed an incident hours earlier when windows at Mr Riley’s home were smashed. Later on in the early hours of September 17, 2022, Mr Riley and a friend went to Mr Adams’ family home, the pair both being armed with bottles of beer.
His friend was not seriously hurt, but Mr Riley suffered a fatal stab wound to his leg. The court has heard that there was ‘history’ between Mr Riley and Mr Adams, and that trouble flared again in September 2022.
Mr de la Poer said: “The catalyst was rumours that a friend of Callum Riley was going to grass on Tony Adams, about Tony Adams’ stash of drugs. A lesson needed to be taught, and Callum Riley’s friend was threatened by an associate of Tony Adams.” Mr Riley became involved after ‘standing up’ for his associate, the court heard.
After being arrested on suspicion of murder, Mr Adams told officers: “Dale’s done the murder, what have yous not got?” Later, he added: “Cos he needs to be arrested he’s f ****** killed the boy and now you’re blaming it all on us, it’s f ****** mad.”
After he was arrested, Mr Heywood said: “I am really, really sorry. I didn’t
mean for it to happen. I’m really sorry. I really didn’t mean it. I am really sorry.
“It was self-defence, it was self-defence.”
Michelle Conaghan and Niomi Conaghan both answered ‘no comment’ to questions asked by police following their arrest. Mr Adams, of Minshull New Road, Crewe; Mr Heywood, of Windermere Road, Middleton; and the 17-year-old all deny murder. The three defendants also deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Mr Heywood and the 17-year-old deny causing criminal damage. Jurors have heard Mr Adams has pleaded guilty to this offence. Mr Heywood also denies possessing an offensive weapon. Michelle Conaghan and Niomi Conaghan, both of Minshull New Road, Crewe, both deny assisting an offender.