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Sadie Hartley murder suspect 'feared being framed by co-accused' Sadie Hartley murder accused was shown how to use stun gun, court told
(about 2 hours later)
A horse-riding instructor accused of murdering a businesswoman feared she would be framed for the crime and that her co-accused would poison her, a court has heard. A woman accused of killing her love rival was given a full demonstration of how to use a stun gun during a trip to Germany to purchase the 500,000-volt device, pepper spray and a baton in preparation for the murder, Preston crown court has heard.
Katrina Walsh, 56, was said to be “very frightened” of Sarah Williams, 35, after Williams allegedly stabbed her love rival, Sadie Hartley, 60, to death. Sarah Williams, 35, is alleged to have incapacitated businesswoman Sadie Hartley, 60, with a shot to the head from the device before she stabbed her to death in Helmshore, Lancashire, on 14 January.
Walsh’s former husband, Kevin, told the jury at Preston crown court that his ex-wife believed her life was also under threat after Williams allegedly committed the murder. It was claimed that Williams was plotting to kill Walsh with poison and leave a fake confession note behind. Both Williams and co-accused Katrina Walsh, 56, were held days after Hartley was found dead in a pool of blood in the hall of her £500,000 home.
Walsh is alleged to have helped plan the murder, committed with “demonic savagery” by Williams, who is accused of stabbing Hartley 40 times with a kitchen knife.
Williams is alleged to have murdered Hartley in an “orgy of violence” after Hartley’s partner, former fireman Ian Johnston, 57, broke off his affair with Williams. Both women deny murder.
Williams and Walsh are alleged to have travelled to Darmstadt in southern Germany in early December, heading for the industrial area and showrooms of Security Discount Germany. Anna Schanz, an employee at the firm, gave evidence via videolink and told the court that both women came to the showroom.
After being contacted by British police, Schanz told how she immediately recognised the two women when she was emailed a photograph of them taken on an holiday in Thailand.
Speaking through an interpreter, Schanz told the court she warned Williams about the risks of using the device on humans, telling her it could result in death if used in the region of the head, neck and heart.
Schanz said the younger of the two women, alleged by the crown to be Williams, did all the talking, while the older woman, who the prosecution claims is Walsh, remained quiet.
Williams allegedly asked for a 1m-volt gun but settled for 500,000 volts after being told that the higher voltage gun was illegal in Germany and could only be purchased as an export.
Schanz said: “She asked about different types of shockers and she would have liked a stronger one. She bought the 500,000 one and she didn’t know how to use it so I showed her, gave her a demonstration and then she tried it out.”
The women paid for the stun gun and two cans of pepper spray in cash but Schanz said could not remember which of the women paid for the items. After making the purchase, the women allegedly asked her for directions to the Christmas markets.
Earlier, the court had heard how Walsh, a horse-riding instructorfeared she would be framed for the crime and that her co-accused would poison her.
Walsh was said to be “very frightened” of Williams after Williams allegedly stabbed Hartley to death.
Walsh’s former husband, Kevin, told the jury that his ex-wife believed her life was also under threat after Williams allegedly committed the murder. It was claimed that Williams was plotting to kill Walsh with poison and leave a fake confession note behind.
Mr Walsh told the court he had been married to Walsh for 24 years but after splitting in 2008 they remained close friends and were in regular contact.Mr Walsh told the court he had been married to Walsh for 24 years but after splitting in 2008 they remained close friends and were in regular contact.
After his former wife, who he called Kit, had been arrested for murder he visited her in prison twice, including on her birthday on 3 February, and they wrote several letters to each other. After his former wife, whom he called Kit, had been arrested for murder, he visited her in prison twice, including on her birthday on 3 February, and they wrote several letters to each other.
Both Walsh and Williams were held days after Hartley was found dead in a pool of blood in the hall of her £500,000 home in Helmshore, Lancashire, on 14 January. On Tuesday, Mr Walsh told the jury what his former wife told him on his prison visit and of their correspondence. It was in one of Walsh’s letters that she wrote of having a “big incentive” for Williams to be imprisoned.
Walsh is alleged to have helped plan the murder, committed with “demonic savagery” by Williams who is accused of paralysing her victim with a stun gun before stabbing her 40 times with a kitchen knife.
Williams is alleged to have murdered Hartley in an “orgy of violence” after Hartley’s partner, ex-fireman Ian Johnston, 57, broke off his affair with Williams. Both women deny murder.
On Tuesday, Mr Walsh told the jury what his former wife told him on his prison visit and of their correspondence.
It was in one of Walsh’s letters that she wrote of having a “big incentive” for Williams to be imprisoned.
Mr Walsh said his former wife was “very frightened” of Williams and thought her life was in danger.Mr Walsh said his former wife was “very frightened” of Williams and thought her life was in danger.
The letter said: “I have a very big incentive for her to be found guilty. The letter said: “I have a very big incentive for her to be found guilty. I was sure that I would die with a confession – she thought she had more time and my printer was out of ink or I’d have died on Saturday. So I really want her convicted and away for a good long time because I don’t fancy my chances if she’s out.”
“I was sure that I would die with a confession – she thought she had more time and my printer was out of ink or I’d have died on Saturday. So I really want her convicted and away for a good long time because I don’t fancy my chances if she’s out.”
The prosecution says Walsh was fully complicit in the attack, with extracts from her meticulous diaries detailing her daily life including references to “murder plots” and Hartley.The prosecution says Walsh was fully complicit in the attack, with extracts from her meticulous diaries detailing her daily life including references to “murder plots” and Hartley.
The court heard the defendants had also tried to recruit Mr Walsh to the murder plot using his “skillset”.The court heard the defendants had also tried to recruit Mr Walsh to the murder plot using his “skillset”.
The 57-year-old said he was contacted by his former wife last August out of the blue as she tried to set up a meeting between him and Williams for something “nefarious”.The 57-year-old said he was contacted by his former wife last August out of the blue as she tried to set up a meeting between him and Williams for something “nefarious”.
Mr Walsh then claimed he received a telephone call from Williams telling him she had a job suiting his “particular key skill” but did not want to discuss it over the phone and wanted to meet in person.Mr Walsh then claimed he received a telephone call from Williams telling him she had a job suiting his “particular key skill” but did not want to discuss it over the phone and wanted to meet in person.
The jury heard Williams was using an untraceable, pay-as-you-go mobile phone and Mr Walsh said “alarm bells were going off in my head” as he believed Williams was up to “something dodgy”.The jury heard Williams was using an untraceable, pay-as-you-go mobile phone and Mr Walsh said “alarm bells were going off in my head” as he believed Williams was up to “something dodgy”.
He said he had no idea why he was being contacted as he had not spoken to Williams for eight years.He said he had no idea why he was being contacted as he had not spoken to Williams for eight years.
He said Williams was “pushing for this meeting”. He added: “She had already said she didn’t want to discuss it over the phone so I was slightly suspicious. He said Williams was “pushing for this meeting”. He added: “She had already said she didn’t want to discuss it over the phone so I was slightly suspicious. I had always been very dubious of her. Why did she contact me after eight years?”
“I had always been very dubious of her. Why did she contact me after eight years?”
Sensing something “quite dodgy”, Mr Walsh, a Viking re-enactment enthusiast, said he decided to block Williams’ number and completely cut contact.Sensing something “quite dodgy”, Mr Walsh, a Viking re-enactment enthusiast, said he decided to block Williams’ number and completely cut contact.
In a subsequent diary entry Walsh said her ex-husband may have suspected that he was being embroiled in a murder plot and suggested he was being recruited for his archery skills. In a subsequent diary entry, Walsh said her ex-husband may have suspected that he was being embroiled in a murder plot and suggested he was being recruited for his archery skills.
Williams and Walsh, both of Chester, deny murder. The case continues.Williams and Walsh, both of Chester, deny murder. The case continues.