Jury out in murder trial

4:18pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

The jury in the Teddy Simpson murder trial was today considering its verdicts at Leeds Crown Court.

The panel, down to 11 members, began its deliberations at 3.30pm.

Mr Justice Langstaff told the jurors: “You must take all the time you need.”

He compared the case to a book and said the last chapter would be written by them.

The judge said the jurors must try to reach unanimous verdicts in the trial which began in late June.

Seven men, including three from Bradford, deny murdering Mr Simpson, a Bradford businessman, and conspiring to rob him.

Mr Simpson, 56, a father-of-four and great-grandad, was tortured and killed between August 1 and 2 last year.

The prosecution says a gang expected to find cash and drugs at his home in Sticker Lane, Laisterdyke, Bradford.

Mr Simpson, who owned a car business next to his detached house and ran a stone sales business, was found dead at 8am on August 2 near to the former Shirley Manor Residential Home, off Huddersfield Road in Wyke, Bradford.

The Crown alleges that Anthony Davies, 27, of Lloyds Drive, Low Moor, Bradford, was chief planner of the robbery.

With him in the dock are Mumtaz Ali, 38, of Astral View, Wibsey; Darren Martin, 37, of Markfield Avenue, Low Moor; Anthony Neale, 28, of Harehills, Leeds; Stefan Decosta Daniel, 28, of Little London, Leeds; Errol Witter, 27, of Woodhouse, Leeds; and Robert Cameron, 28, of Garforth, Leeds.

All the defendants plead not guilty to murder and conspiracy to rob.

Prosecutor Tom Bayliss QC has told the jury that the seven were all involved in some way in the violence leading to Mr Simpson’s death.

He said some were organisers, some were carrying out the violence and others were assisting the organisers.

Mr Bayliss said an eighth man – Sonny Stewart, 26, of Hope Avenue, Bankfoot, Bradford – had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

The trial continues.

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