Jurors in the trial of a young security guard accused of murdering married father Paul Taylor have retired to begin deliberations.
Jack Crawley, 20, admits the manslaughter of Mr Taylor, a 56-year-old hospital catering manager who died at a secluded spot on the outskirts of Carlisle early on October 18 last year.
Mr Taylor’s disappearance sparked a series of missing person appeals and then a murder probe.
Crawley lured Mr Taylor to that location and is alleged to have attacked Mr Taylor with a hammer, landing at least 10 heavy blows to the head and face.
Crawley instead says he punched Mr Taylor while trying to steal his car. Mr Taylor, he has told a jury, fell to the ground, hit his head and died.
Crawley, who spoke of trying to carry out CPR, denies murder and is on trial at Carlisle Crown Court. He said in evidence he had, on previous occasions, sold cannabis and also engaged in sexual activity with Mr Taylor, who hid a double life from family members.
His body was found months later, on May 1, after Crawley led detectives to remains which he had burned and hidden in bushes at the wildlife watcher’s haven of Finglandrigg Wood, west of Carlisle.
Hours after Mr Taylor’s death, Crawley made unsuccessful attempts to sell his Vauxhall Corsa. On October 19 he and hospital security colleague Marcus Goodfellow then travelled in the Corsa, which was crashed and abandoned in Langwathby.
Goodfellow, then aged 19, denies assisting Crawley to dispose of the vehicle. He is alleged to have known or believed that Mr Taylor had died during that journey.
But during a closing speech to jurors today, Goodfellow’s barrister Peter Byrne said: “I submit there is no prosecution evidence that Mr Goodfellow knew Paul Taylor had died.”
Crawley, of Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle, further denies an attempted murder charge arising from an alleged hammer attack on a man near York on January 5.
Jurors have heard closing speeches from all legal counsel in the case. They have also heard all evidence, which was summarised over several hours today by the trial judge, Mr Justice Goose.
He had urged the jury of six men and six women to consider the evidence calmly and dispassionately, putting emotions aside.
“I would like you to start work, if you would, this afternoon,” said Mr Justice Goose of their imminent deliberations.
Jurors have been asked to reach unanimous verdicts.
