Man denies murder of Murray Thompson

A "gardener" at a Watford cannabis factory was murdered by another grower

Murray Thompson hasn't been seen since the day - more than two years ago - when he walked into the factory in a flat above a shop in St Albans Road , it was claimed.

His fiancée and parents, as well as his employer, haven't heard from him and his bank account has fallen dormant, a jury heard.

Prosecutor John Price QC told St Albans crown court: "Murray Thompson vanished that afternoon because the crown alleges he was murdered."

Mr Price was outlining the prosecution's case in the trial of two men, James Evans, 23, and 47-year-old Lee Sullivan.

Mr Evans of Bushey Mill Lane, Watford, alone pleads not guilty to murdering 34-year-old Mr Thompson who lived with his fiancée Rachel McDowell in a flat in St Peter's Street, St Albans.

Sullivan is said to have been the "boss" of a criminal operation to grow skunk cannabis.

The court was told how, on the afternoon of 20 April 2010, Murray, a courier driver for a company in Hemel Hempstead, arrived in his van close to a flat.

The jury heard it was above a chemist shop and was one of five being used for the cultivation of skunk cannabis in Watford.

Both Murray and Mr Evans were said to be "gardeners" whose job it was to tend and water the plants.

Mr Price described Lee Sullivan, of Hudson Close, Watford as the "boss" or "chief executive" who had rented properties around Watford using a false name for the purpose of growing the drug.

The jury was told that also at the flat that afternoon was Mr Evans. It was possible, said the prosecutor, that a third person was present.

Mr Price said that while in the flat, Murray Thompson was murdered by Evans.

"It is not possible to state how he died because his body has not been found," said the prosecutor.

"But whatever happened to Murray Thompson to cause his death in that flat, we do know it was something which caused him to shed a great deal of blood."

"Having killed Murray Thompson, it was James Evans who disposed of his body."

The prosecutor said it wasn't known what the motive for the killing was, but he said it took place against a background of "serious, organised criminal activity involving the production for commercial supply of controlled drugs."

The jury was told that following the murder, Evans and Sullivan took steps to close down the factory in St Albans Road and were involved in a cover up.

But the clearing out of the flat happened only after a crop of skunk cannabis had been harvested, said Mr Price.

He said once that had happened equipment was removed from the flat along with carpets, and rooms were decorated with new carpets were put in.

The court was told that by May 8, 2010 detectives investigating Murray's disappearance had found the flat in St Albans Road in Watford which had been cleared of equipment and re-decorated.

However they could still detect a strong smell of cannabis.

Murray's van, which he had driven to the factory, had been moved to another location, said Mr Price, and that Evans had scrapped his own Corsa car because it had been used to transport the body away from the flat.

Mr Price told the jury that as the police investigation into Murray's disappearance continued, a number of witnesses including his fiancée, Miss McDowell, the landlords of two properties that had been rented and a former girlfriend of Mr Sullivan received threats meant to intimidate them into not cooperating with the police.

James Evans pleads not guilty to murder, conspiracy to produce cannabis and two counts of doing acts to pervert the course of justice.

Lee Sullivan denies perverting the course of justice and four charges of intimidating a witness.

The case continues.

http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk 08/08/2012