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Man beheaded in 'revenge' attack | Man beheaded in 'revenge' attack |
(20 minutes later) | |
A gang abducted a man, beheaded him and cut his hands off before abandoning his body in revenge for taking their drugs, a court has been told. | |
The headless and handless body of John Finney, 42, was found in Ickleford, Hertfordshire, last March. | The headless and handless body of John Finney, 42, was found in Ickleford, Hertfordshire, last March. |
At St Albans Crown Court Norman Jones, his son Joseph Jones, Mark Curran, and Gary Lattimore, all deny murder. | At St Albans Crown Court Norman Jones, his son Joseph Jones, Mark Curran, and Gary Lattimore, all deny murder. |
The court heard the gang thought Mr Finney had taken their "gear", believed to be drugs, and wanted revenge. | The court heard the gang thought Mr Finney had taken their "gear", believed to be drugs, and wanted revenge. |
Jurors heard Mr Jones, of Dukes Head Yard, Highgate; his son, of Crescent Road, New Barnet; Mr Curran, of Mill Bridge, Dollis Valley Way, Barnet, and Mr Lattimore, of no fixed address, abducted Mr Finney, then killed, dismembered, and abandoned his body. | Jurors heard Mr Jones, of Dukes Head Yard, Highgate; his son, of Crescent Road, New Barnet; Mr Curran, of Mill Bridge, Dollis Valley Way, Barnet, and Mr Lattimore, of no fixed address, abducted Mr Finney, then killed, dismembered, and abandoned his body. |
Blood spots | |
His naked body was not found until two weeks later but his head and hands have never been found. | His naked body was not found until two weeks later but his head and hands have never been found. |
The court was told Mr Finney had been abducted from Park Farm, Northaw, where he lived in a caravan. | The court was told Mr Finney had been abducted from Park Farm, Northaw, where he lived in a caravan. |
William Harbage QC, prosecuting, said CCTV showed Mr Finney arriving at Park Farm and then a blue van - believed to belong to the gang - leaving, supposedly after his abduction. The burnt-out blue van was later found. | William Harbage QC, prosecuting, said CCTV showed Mr Finney arriving at Park Farm and then a blue van - believed to belong to the gang - leaving, supposedly after his abduction. The burnt-out blue van was later found. |
Jurors were told Mr Finney's body was taken to an industrial unit in Hitchin where it was dismembered before being dumped. | Jurors were told Mr Finney's body was taken to an industrial unit in Hitchin where it was dismembered before being dumped. |
The unit was cleaned by the gang, who also commissioned a cleaning company, but blood spots from Mr Finney were later found by police, the court heard. | The unit was cleaned by the gang, who also commissioned a cleaning company, but blood spots from Mr Finney were later found by police, the court heard. |
Mr Harbage told the court that Mr Finney had spoken to friends about threatening phone calls in which he was told if he did not return the "gear" - believed to be drugs - they would "put a lump of lead in him". | Mr Harbage told the court that Mr Finney had spoken to friends about threatening phone calls in which he was told if he did not return the "gear" - believed to be drugs - they would "put a lump of lead in him". |
The calls were later linked to Joseph Jones, the court heard. | The calls were later linked to Joseph Jones, the court heard. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |