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Cresswell 'shallow grave' murderer jailed | Cresswell 'shallow grave' murderer jailed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A cannabis dealer who choked a man who worked for him and left him naked and dying in a shallow grave has been jailed for a minimum of 22 years. | A cannabis dealer who choked a man who worked for him and left him naked and dying in a shallow grave has been jailed for a minimum of 22 years. |
Darren Bonner, 24, died a fortnight after he was found semi-conscious in undergrowth near Cresswell, in Northumberland, in July 2017. | Darren Bonner, 24, died a fortnight after he was found semi-conscious in undergrowth near Cresswell, in Northumberland, in July 2017. |
Richard Spottiswood, 34, of Jarrow, had denied murder but was convicted last month at Newcastle Crown Court. | Richard Spottiswood, 34, of Jarrow, had denied murder but was convicted last month at Newcastle Crown Court. |
His partner Lucy Burn, 29, of South Shields, was jailed for 30 months. | |
She had previously admitted assisting an offender. | She had previously admitted assisting an offender. |
The trial was told Mr Bonner worked for Spottiswood, who owned a garage, and the pair also grew cannabis to sell. | The trial was told Mr Bonner worked for Spottiswood, who owned a garage, and the pair also grew cannabis to sell. |
They were spending a weekend at Cresswell Towers Caravan Park, along with Ms Burn, and a row broke out when Spottiswood accused Mr Bonner of spying for a rival drug gang. | They were spending a weekend at Cresswell Towers Caravan Park, along with Ms Burn, and a row broke out when Spottiswood accused Mr Bonner of spying for a rival drug gang. |
He put Mr Bonner in a headlock, and then drove his unconscious victim to a field in the early hours where he dumped him in a pit which he covered with shrubbery and branches. | He put Mr Bonner in a headlock, and then drove his unconscious victim to a field in the early hours where he dumped him in a pit which he covered with shrubbery and branches. |
The next morning a passing walker heard noises "he couldn't quite decipher" and called police. | The next morning a passing walker heard noises "he couldn't quite decipher" and called police. |
Mr Bonner was taken to hospital but died as a result of lack of oxygen to the brain two weeks later. | Mr Bonner was taken to hospital but died as a result of lack of oxygen to the brain two weeks later. |
He was identified by his fingerprints, and the investigation established that he was with Spottiswood prior to him being found. | He was identified by his fingerprints, and the investigation established that he was with Spottiswood prior to him being found. |
'Cold and calculating' | 'Cold and calculating' |
Det Ch Insp Andy Fairlamb, from Northumbria Police, said: "At first he claimed Darren had just wandered off, or someone had come into the caravan while he [Spottiswood] was asleep, assaulted him and taken him away. | Det Ch Insp Andy Fairlamb, from Northumbria Police, said: "At first he claimed Darren had just wandered off, or someone had come into the caravan while he [Spottiswood] was asleep, assaulted him and taken him away. |
"Even during the trial, where he was put in a position where he had no choice but to take some responsibility, he put all the blame on Darren. | "Even during the trial, where he was put in a position where he had no choice but to take some responsibility, he put all the blame on Darren. |
"He said Darren was acting aggressively, it was his fault he was put in a choke hold, he blamed Darren for digging a hole - saying he was going to hide some shotguns - and it was even Darren's fault his clothes fell off him. | "He said Darren was acting aggressively, it was his fault he was put in a choke hold, he blamed Darren for digging a hole - saying he was going to hide some shotguns - and it was even Darren's fault his clothes fell off him. |
"So he was cold, he was calculating, he was looking after number one." | "So he was cold, he was calculating, he was looking after number one." |
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