This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/12/sadie-hartley-suspect-katrina-walsh-feared-framed-co-accused
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sadie Hartley murder accused was shown how to use stun gun, court told Sadie Hartley murder accused was shown how to use stun gun, court told | |
| (5 months later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Sarah Williams, 35, is alleged to have incapacitated businesswoman Sadie Hartley, 60, with a shot to the head from the device and then stabbed her to death in Helmshore, Lancashire, on 14 January. Her co-accused Katrina Walsh, 56, is alleged to have helped plan the attack. Both women deny murder. | Sarah Williams, 35, is alleged to have incapacitated businesswoman Sadie Hartley, 60, with a shot to the head from the device and then stabbed her to death in Helmshore, Lancashire, on 14 January. Her co-accused Katrina Walsh, 56, is alleged to have helped plan the attack. Both women deny murder. |
| Williams and Walsh are alleged to have travelled to Darmstadt, in southern Germany, in early December, and to the showrooms of Security Discount Germany. Anna Schanz, an employee at the firm, said she had been contacted by British police and immediately recognised the two women in a photograph. | Williams and Walsh are alleged to have travelled to Darmstadt, in southern Germany, in early December, and to the showrooms of Security Discount Germany. Anna Schanz, an employee at the firm, said she had been contacted by British police and immediately recognised the two women in a photograph. |
| Giving evidence via videolink and through an interpreter, Schanz told the court that the younger of the women who visited the showroom, alleged by the crown to have been Williams, did all the talking while the older woman, who the prosecution claims was Walsh, remained quiet. | Giving evidence via videolink and through an interpreter, Schanz told the court that the younger of the women who visited the showroom, alleged by the crown to have been Williams, did all the talking while the older woman, who the prosecution claims was Walsh, remained quiet. |
| Schanz said she warned Williams about the risks of using the device on humans, saying it could result in death if used in the region of the head, neck and heart. | Schanz said she warned Williams about the risks of using the device on humans, saying it could result in death if used in the region of the head, neck and heart. |
| Williams allegedly asked for a 1m-volt gun but settled for 500,000 volts after being told that the higher-voltage device was illegal in Germany and could only be purchased as an export. | Williams allegedly asked for a 1m-volt gun but settled for 500,000 volts after being told that the higher-voltage device 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.” | 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, and Schanz said she could not remember which of the women settled the bill. After making the purchase, the women asked her for directions to the Christmas markets, she said. | The women paid for the stun gun and two cans of pepper spray in cash, and Schanz said she could not remember which of the women settled the bill. After making the purchase, the women asked her for directions to the Christmas markets, she said. |
| Earlier, the court heard that Walsh feared she would be framed for Hartley’s murder and that Williams might poison her. | Earlier, the court heard that Walsh feared she would be framed for Hartley’s murder and that Williams might poison her. |
| Walsh’s ex-husband, Kevin, told the jury that Walsh wrote to him after her arrest, saying she had a “big incentive” for Williams to be imprisoned. He said his ex-wife was very frightened of Williams and thought her life was in danger. | Walsh’s ex-husband, Kevin, told the jury that Walsh wrote to him after her arrest, saying she had a “big incentive” for Williams to be imprisoned. He said his ex-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. 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 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.” |
| The prosecution says Walsh was fully complicit in the plot against Hartley. Extracts from her meticulous diaries have been read to the court, including references to “murder plots” and Hartley. | The prosecution says Walsh was fully complicit in the plot against Hartley. Extracts from her meticulous diaries have been read to the court, including references to “murder plots” and Hartley. |
| Kevin Walsh told the court that the defendants tried to recruit him to the plot. He said he was contacted by his ex-wife out of the blue last August as she tried to set up a meeting between him and Williams for something “nefarious”. | Kevin Walsh told the court that the defendants tried to recruit him to the plot. He said he was contacted by his ex-wife out of the blue last August as she tried to set up a meeting between him and Williams for something “nefarious”. |
| He said he then received a call from Williams who said she had a job suiting his “particular key skill” but did not want to discuss it over the phone and preferred to meet in person. | He said he then received a call from Williams who said she had a job suiting his “particular key skill” but did not want to discuss it over the phone and preferred to meet in person. |
| The jury heard that 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 that 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 decided to block Williams’ number and cut off contact. | He said he had no idea why he was being contacted as he had not spoken to Williams for eight years. He decided to block Williams’ number and cut off contact. |
| In a diary entry, Walsh suggested her ex had been sought out for his archery skills. | In a diary entry, Walsh suggested her ex had been sought out 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. |