Flowers were delivered in ‘macabre test run just a week before Sadie’s death’
THE two women accused of killing businesswoman Sadie Hartley carried out a “macabre” test run exactly a week before with a delivery of flowers, a jury heard.
It was said to be one of several reconnaissance missions staged before the brutal murder of the 60-year-old communications director at her home in Helmshore on the evening of January 14 .
On January 7, Sarah Williams, 35, and Katrina Walsh, 56, visited a nearby Tesco store in Haslingden where the bespectacled Williams bought a £3 bunch of flowers.
A day earlier, Ms Williams’s ex-lover Ian Johnston had left the home in Sunny Bank Road he shared with new partner Ms Hartley for a skiing trip to Switzerland.
With Ms Williams known to her victim by sight, said prosecutor John McDermott QC, it was Ms Walsh who went to the door in Sunny Bank Road with the flowers and rang the bell. Ms Walsh was later to tell the police that Ms Williams skulked nearby out of sight - probably in a bush - watching her prey at the very door which she would approach one week later, Preston Crown Court was told. Described in court as “almost the stuff of spy novels”, Mr McDermott said: “We suggest it was perhaps to see if Sadie Hartley would open the door, how she might be dressed or to make doubly sure it was her address. We cannot tell you precisely.”
Shortly after the surprise delivery, Ms Hartley texted Mr Johnston: “A woman has just this minute turned up at the door with a bunch of chrysanthemums but didn’t know who they are from? Xxx.”
Mr Johnston replied: “Not me xxxx.”
Ms Hartley texted back: “She knew my name. That’s a bit worrying when I’m here on my own... No label or anything on them and late at night! XXXX.”
Mr McDermott said Ms Hartley sent an email about the delivery the next day to her business partner, Julie Taylor.
It read: “Had a knock on the door just after 9 last night (thought twice about opening it but did). It was a woman with a bunch of chrysanthemums in her hand – the sort you’d pick up at a garage for a couple of quid – said ‘Mrs Hartley these are for you’.
“But when I ask who they are from she said she’d forgotten the name and then she disappeared down the drive.
“No label or anything on them – bit creepy really. Not from Ian of course but no idea who would do something like that... Needless to say had a bad night sleep last night as a result!”
Ms Hartley was due to join Mr Johnston in Switzerland but the journey never took place as she was stabbed and slashed to death by Williams two days before, the court was told. The trial continues.