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Man 'wanted partner killed to inherit estate and be with lover' Man 'wanted partner killed to inherit estate and be with lover'
(about 2 hours later)
A man tried to hire hitmen to kill his former TV scriptwriter partner of more than 30 years so he could inherit her estate and run off with his younger lover, a court heard. A man tried to hire hitmen to kill his partner of more than 30 years so he could inherit her estate and run off with his younger lover, a court has heard.
David Harris, 68, is accused of offering three men up to £250,000 to murder Hazel Allinson so he could get his hands on assets including the £800,000 home he shared with her in Amberley, a village near Arundel in West Sussex. David Harris, 68, is accused of offering three men up to £250,000 to murder Hazel Allinson, a former TV scriptwriter, so he could get his hands on assets including the £800,000 home he shared with her in Amberley, a village near Arundel in West Sussex.
He provided details about retired Allinson’s movements and appearance to give them opportunities to kill her, including on the way to church and as she walked her dog, his trial at the Old Bailey in London heard. He provided details about retired Allinson’s movements and appearance to give them opportunities to kill her, including while she was on the way to church and as she walked her dog, his trial at the Old Bailey in London heard.
The first man tried, unsuccessfully, to warn Allinson about her partner’s alleged intentions, and the second alerted police, who brought in an undercover detective to pose as “Chris”, a third killer for hire. The first man tried unsuccessfully to warn Allinson about her partner’s alleged intentions, and the second alerted police, who brought in an undercover detective to pose as “Chris”, a third killer for hire.
Harris is accused of telling the men: “Her purse-strings are so tight, it’s just so fucking unbearable.” Harris is accused of telling the men: “Her purse strings are so tight, it’s just so fucking unbearable.”
The court heard that Harris, who had also worked in TV production, had run up large debts by showering gifts, including jewellery, on his lover, Ugne Cekaviciute, who he said he had met in a brothel. The court heard that Harris, who had also worked in TV production, had run up large debts by showering gifts, including jewellery, on his lover Ugne Cekaviciute, whom he said he had met in a brothel.
Prosecutor William Boyce QC told the court that after his arrest in November 2016 Harris denied hiring the men to kill his partner, whom he referred to as his wife, saying he was in fact researching a thriller novel he planned to write to make money. William Boyce QC, prosecuting, told the court that after Harris’s arrest in November 2016, he denied hiring the men to kill his partner – whom he referred to as his wife – saying he was in fact researching a thriller novel he planned to write to make money.
Boyce told the jury: “For more than 30 years he lived with his partner, Hazel Allinson, in London and then in Sussex. He found a new girlfriend, a much younger woman. Hazel Allinson had the money, he didn’t.Boyce told the jury: “For more than 30 years he lived with his partner, Hazel Allinson, in London and then in Sussex. He found a new girlfriend, a much younger woman. Hazel Allinson had the money, he didn’t.
“He wanted both the younger woman and the older woman’s money. If he left her he thought he wouldn’t get the money, and therefore he tried to arrange to have her murdered so he could have her money and the younger woman.”“He wanted both the younger woman and the older woman’s money. If he left her he thought he wouldn’t get the money, and therefore he tried to arrange to have her murdered so he could have her money and the younger woman.”
The court heard that Harris, who had worked on shows including ITV police drama The Bill with Allinson, had been lavishing gifts on Cekaviciute and meeting her for trysts in London hotels.The court heard that Harris, who had worked on shows including ITV police drama The Bill with Allinson, had been lavishing gifts on Cekaviciute and meeting her for trysts in London hotels.
He had resorted to borrowing thousands of pounds from neighbours and maxing out his credit cards to fund his double life, Boyce told jurors.He had resorted to borrowing thousands of pounds from neighbours and maxing out his credit cards to fund his double life, Boyce told jurors.
Harris denies three charges of soliciting to murder Allinson in 2016.Harris denies three charges of soliciting to murder Allinson in 2016.
Boyce said Harris spent beyond his means on his lover, saying: “He spent money on her, increasing amounts of money, it would seem; gifts, flowers, movies, dinners, books for her studies, underwear and, of course, hotels. He would also give her cash. Boyce said Harris spent beyond his means on his lover. “He spent money on her, increasing amounts of money, it would seem; gifts, flowers, movies, dinners, books for her studies, underwear and, of course, hotels. He would also give her cash. On his own account it seems he fell in love with her.”
“On his own account it seems he fell in love with her.”
Harris used a “burner” mobile phone to contact the men he wanted to hire, the court heard.Harris used a “burner” mobile phone to contact the men he wanted to hire, the court heard.
He is accused of approaching London mechanic Christopher May in March 2016 and offering £250,00 to kill his wife. He is then said to have given May details about Allinson’s routine and asked how quickly it could be done, including asking if May could do it the following day. He is accused of approaching Christopher May, a London mechanic, in March 2016 and offering £250,000 to kill his partner. He is said to have given May details about Allinson’s routine and asked how quickly it could be done, including asking whether May could do it the following day.
In one text message Harris is said to have told May: “My wife is due to go into hospital to have her ovaries removed so that might be the best option.” In one text message, Harris is said to have told May: “My wife is due to go into hospital to have her ovaries removed, so that might be the best option.”
May, the court heard, was worried when he realised Harris was serious, and travelled to Allinson’s gym near Chichester to warn her in person, while pretending to Harris that he might carry out the hit. But he missed her, and when he later emailed her using a false name with a warning she asked him to speak to Harris. The court heard that May became worried when he realised Harris was apparently serious, and travelled to Allinson’s gym near Chichester to warn her in person, while pretending to Harris that he might carry out the hit. But he missed her, and when he later emailed her using a false name with a warning, she asked him to speak to Harris.
The second man, Duke Dean, was approached in October 2016 and offered up to £175,000, the court heard. But he immediately alerted police, who set up a meeting between him, Harris and “Chris” in a bugged car in Balham, south-west London.The second man, Duke Dean, was approached in October 2016 and offered up to £175,000, the court heard. But he immediately alerted police, who set up a meeting between him, Harris and “Chris” in a bugged car in Balham, south-west London.
During the meeting, the court heard, Harris suggested they kill his partner and make it look like a mugging or a carjacking, but however it was done “it’s got to be fatal”.During the meeting, the court heard, Harris suggested they kill his partner and make it look like a mugging or a carjacking, but however it was done “it’s got to be fatal”.
He is accused of telling them: “I want the next five years with a girlfriend, living by the sea, OK? That’s what I want.”He is accused of telling them: “I want the next five years with a girlfriend, living by the sea, OK? That’s what I want.”
All the men were offered small sums of money upfront, with the balance paid after he inherited Allinson’s money.All the men were offered small sums of money upfront, with the balance paid after he inherited Allinson’s money.
Boyce told the jurors the help the defendant gave to men he thought were real killers-for-hire so they could get close to his partner went beyond what would have been needed for research.Boyce told the jurors the help the defendant gave to men he thought were real killers-for-hire so they could get close to his partner went beyond what would have been needed for research.
While Harris claimed he “had a plot line for the book but had not yet fleshed it out”, there was no evidence he had written anything down, the lawyer added.While Harris claimed he “had a plot line for the book but had not yet fleshed it out”, there was no evidence he had written anything down, the lawyer added.
Harris listened to proceedings in court though a hearing loop in the dock.Harris listened to proceedings in court though a hearing loop in the dock.
The trial, which is due to last three weeks, continues.The trial, which is due to last three weeks, continues.