Murder-accused tried to sell victim's car

A man accused of murdering an army veteran tried to sell his car the day after his disappearance, a jury has heard.

Paul Taylor, from Annan in Scotland, was last seen by his wife, Maria, on 17 October 2023 - nine days before his 57th birthday.

His disappearance sparked a murder probe after his skeletal remains were found in a shallow grave in woodland west of Carlisle, Cumbria, in May.

Jack Crawley, 20, who is on trial at the city's crown court, has denied murder but admitted manslaughter and unlawful killing.

He has also denied a charge of attempted murder, relating to a separate attack in York.

A second man on trial, Marcus Goodfellow, 20, of Greystone Road, Carlisle, denies assisting an offender by helping to dispose of Mr Taylor’s vehicle.

The jury was taken through a timeline of events including phone contact, maps, CCTV stills and footage from the weeks and months before the death of Mr Taylor, a Cumberland Infirmary catering manager.

The accused had been in touch with Mr Taylor for 10 months before his disappearance, the court heard.

On 17 July 2023, Crawley - using the name Jamie - contacted Mr Taylor on the dating app Grindr.

The court has heard Mr Taylor’s family were unaware of his sexual interest in men.

"Hi it’s me sorry couldn’t meet, my dad wouldn’t let me leave and was checking my phone," the message said.

Mr Taylor replied: "Ok, it’s cool thought something to do with that - talk on WhatsApp later, it’s easier."

One of three phones used by Mr Taylor was never recovered, the hearing heard.

Investigators found Crawley as a contact on another phone, which had been deleted.

Evidence from two phones seized from Crawley showed Mr Taylor’s number as a deleted contact.

Statements were read to jurors from two men who had had sexual encounters with Mr Taylor.

One said: "Paul was a nice and gentle guy. I got the impression he wasn’t happy, and living a confusing life."

Evidence shown to jurors on day two of Crawley's trial included photos taken on his phone of Mr Taylor's blue Vauxhall Corsa early on 18 October.

These were sent to a number of people, including scrap and car dealers.

"Got a 2018 Vauxhall Corsa, around 60k miles, no reg, no logbook, £2,000," read one message.

"You interested?" asked another.

Giving evidence, and asked to interpret this contact, Det Insp Amanda Sykes said of Crawley: "He is contacting a number of different people, sending instant messages, offering the sale of the vehicle to other parties."

At about 07:30 BST on 19 October, CCTV footage captured Crawley buying £4.57 of unleaded petrol in a fuel can he ripped the nozzle from and discarded.

He and Mr Goodfellow then travelled to Langwathby in Mr Taylor's Corsa.

The car was abandoned near the village's Shepherds Inn after it clipped a kerb and was crashed.

Both Crawley and Mr Goodfellow were captured in and around Langwathby on CCTV footage shown to jurors.

When initially interviewed by police, Crawley denied any involvement in Mr Taylor's death, and also claimed at first he did not know him.

Prosecutor David McLachlan KC said Crawley had killed Mr Taylor in a "premeditated" attack in which "severe violence was meted out".

He also said the defendant had "murder on his mind" after listening to a song called Romantic Homicide on the night Mr Taylor was last seen.

Crawley, of Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle, also denies the attempted murder of a second man several months later in Yorkshire who was attacked with a hammer, the court heard.

The trial, which is expected to last several weeks, continues.

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