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| Man died after 'wild goose chase' | Man died after 'wild goose chase' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A convicted conman accused of killing his boyfriend was due to repay £5,000 to his aunt and uncle on the day of the attack, the Old Bailey has heard. | |
| Glenn Rycroft, 33, denies murdering Gareth MacDonald, 30, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, in a Travelodge hotel near London on 14 September 2007. | Glenn Rycroft, 33, denies murdering Gareth MacDonald, 30, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, in a Travelodge hotel near London on 14 September 2007. |
| Mr Rycroft was to meet relatives to return cash he had taken in a scam. | Mr Rycroft was to meet relatives to return cash he had taken in a scam. |
| His relatives told the court they never met and that Mr Rycroft had sent them on a "wild goose chase". | His relatives told the court they never met and that Mr Rycroft had sent them on a "wild goose chase". |
| The prosecution claims Mr Rycroft, of Holywell, Flintshire, murdered the married father-of-three by hitting him over the head with a fire extinguisher in their hotel room. | The prosecution claims Mr Rycroft, of Holywell, Flintshire, murdered the married father-of-three by hitting him over the head with a fire extinguisher in their hotel room. |
| It is claimed the former British Airways steward's motive included a desire "not to lose face in the eyes of his aunt and uncle". | It is claimed the former British Airways steward's motive included a desire "not to lose face in the eyes of his aunt and uncle". |
| You're just having us on a wild goose chase Glenn - we're going to miss our train - we have no money Voicemail on Glenn Rycroft's phone from his aunt, Barbara Rowlands | |
| Mr Rycroft's aunt, Barbara Rowlands, said the defendant led her and her husband John on a "wild goose chase" after taking their money in 2001 for a bogus British Airways Investment Bond in 2001, promising it could offer huge returns. | Mr Rycroft's aunt, Barbara Rowlands, said the defendant led her and her husband John on a "wild goose chase" after taking their money in 2001 for a bogus British Airways Investment Bond in 2001, promising it could offer huge returns. |
| The court has heard that in 2003 Mr Rycroft was convicted of conning friends and family out of more than £200,000 to secretly live the high life, then claimed he was suffering from a cancerous brain tumour to raise more cash. | The court has heard that in 2003 Mr Rycroft was convicted of conning friends and family out of more than £200,000 to secretly live the high life, then claimed he was suffering from a cancerous brain tumour to raise more cash. |
| The planned meeting with Mr and Mrs Rowlands at a central London hotel, where the couple were staying during a visit from their home in Canada, had been arranged to hand back the money he owed. | The planned meeting with Mr and Mrs Rowlands at a central London hotel, where the couple were staying during a visit from their home in Canada, had been arranged to hand back the money he owed. |
| The prosecution claims Mr Rycroft at one point told his relatives he was just 20 minutes away but went to "great lengths" to avoid the meeting, fobbing them off with more excuses. | The prosecution claims Mr Rycroft at one point told his relatives he was just 20 minutes away but went to "great lengths" to avoid the meeting, fobbing them off with more excuses. |
| Mr MacDonald was found dead in a motorway Travelodge | Mr MacDonald was found dead in a motorway Travelodge |
| The court heard that late on 13 September, the defendant called to say he and Mr MacDonald were stuck in traffic and then became lost on the way and were at Heston services, and arranged the meeting for the following morning. | The court heard that late on 13 September, the defendant called to say he and Mr MacDonald were stuck in traffic and then became lost on the way and were at Heston services, and arranged the meeting for the following morning. |
| The prosecution told the jury that Mr MacDonald had already been murdered when CCTV cameras captured Mr Rycroft driving off at 7am before he returned shortly afterwards, went to the room and raised the alert. | The prosecution told the jury that Mr MacDonald had already been murdered when CCTV cameras captured Mr Rycroft driving off at 7am before he returned shortly afterwards, went to the room and raised the alert. |
| Mrs Rowlands said the defendant failed to answer any of her calls that morning. The court heard she left a series of angry voicemails on his mobile phone. | Mrs Rowlands said the defendant failed to answer any of her calls that morning. The court heard she left a series of angry voicemails on his mobile phone. |
| In the first she said: "You're just having us on a wild goose chase Glenn. We're going to miss our train. We have no money. | In the first she said: "You're just having us on a wild goose chase Glenn. We're going to miss our train. We have no money. |
| "You have our money. Our visitors are expecting us. We have checked out of our hotel. What can I do?" | "You have our money. Our visitors are expecting us. We have checked out of our hotel. What can I do?" |
| In the second, she said: "It's 10 to nine and you've not showed up. I've got to go to Victoria bus station. I mean how the heck? You know this is not on. We've got no money and no train tickets." | In the second, she said: "It's 10 to nine and you've not showed up. I've got to go to Victoria bus station. I mean how the heck? You know this is not on. We've got no money and no train tickets." |
| In a final message to her nephew, she added: 'If you are where you say you are in London, there is no reason for you not to be here." | In a final message to her nephew, she added: 'If you are where you say you are in London, there is no reason for you not to be here." |
| Mrs Rowlands told the court on Thursday that her and her husband were told of Mr MacDonald's death while staying in Cornwall and were subsequently interviewed by police. | Mrs Rowlands told the court on Thursday that her and her husband were told of Mr MacDonald's death while staying in Cornwall and were subsequently interviewed by police. |
| The court had heard that in 2006 Mr MacDonald, a former pub landlord, had left his family to live with Mr Rycroft after meeting him over the internet. | The court had heard that in 2006 Mr MacDonald, a former pub landlord, had left his family to live with Mr Rycroft after meeting him over the internet. |
| It is claimed he started begun questioning Mr Rycroft's past after confiding to his estranged wife that his account had been drained of cash by someone. | It is claimed he started begun questioning Mr Rycroft's past after confiding to his estranged wife that his account had been drained of cash by someone. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |