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Shannon accused 'shocked at plot' | Shannon accused 'shocked at plot' |
(41 minutes later) | |
A man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews said he was "scared" of her mother who he claims was behind a plot to claim £50,000 in reward money. | |
Michael Donovan took the stand at Leeds Crown Court, where he and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, deny several charges over the girl's disappearance. | Michael Donovan took the stand at Leeds Crown Court, where he and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, deny several charges over the girl's disappearance. |
The 40-year-old of Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, said he was "shocked" Ms Matthews had gone ahead with the plan. | The 40-year-old of Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, said he was "shocked" Ms Matthews had gone ahead with the plan. |
He also told the jury that Shannon's mother had "kept threatening him". | He also told the jury that Shannon's mother had "kept threatening him". |
Mr Donovan was giving evidence after receiving treatment for injuries he received in a jail attack. | Mr Donovan was giving evidence after receiving treatment for injuries he received in a jail attack. |
His barrister Alan Conrad QC asked him: "How do you feel towards Karen? Do you like her?" | His barrister Alan Conrad QC asked him: "How do you feel towards Karen? Do you like her?" |
Mr Donovan replied: "No." | Mr Donovan replied: "No." |
She told me that she was going to get a bigger reward out of this if (Shannon) went missing Michael Donovan | She told me that she was going to get a bigger reward out of this if (Shannon) went missing Michael Donovan |
Asked why, he added: "I'm scared of her. She kept threatening me." | Asked why, he added: "I'm scared of her. She kept threatening me." |
Mr Donovan said they were in a cafe in Dewsbury when Ms Matthews put a plan to him to claim £50,000 in reward money. | Mr Donovan said they were in a cafe in Dewsbury when Ms Matthews put a plan to him to claim £50,000 in reward money. |
He said Ms Matthews first asked him to look after her elder son, but he refused. | He said Ms Matthews first asked him to look after her elder son, but he refused. |
Mr Donovan said: "She paused. Then she came out and said: 'Can you look after Shannon instead?' | Mr Donovan said: "She paused. Then she came out and said: 'Can you look after Shannon instead?' |
"She told me that she was going to get a bigger reward out of this if she went missing." | "She told me that she was going to get a bigger reward out of this if she went missing." |
Mr Donovan told the court that, on 19 February, he waited about 10 or 15 minutes before Shannon approached his car. | Mr Donovan told the court that, on 19 February, he waited about 10 or 15 minutes before Shannon approached his car. |
Ms Matthews did not want to speak to Shannon, Mr Donovan told the court | Ms Matthews did not want to speak to Shannon, Mr Donovan told the court |
He said: "I told Karen to bring Shannon down but she didn't. Shannon came down by herself, on her own." | He said: "I told Karen to bring Shannon down but she didn't. Shannon came down by herself, on her own." |
He told the crown court how the girl, then nine years old, said to him: "My mum told me you were taking me to the fair tonight." | He told the crown court how the girl, then nine years old, said to him: "My mum told me you were taking me to the fair tonight." |
Mr Donovan said he told Shannon they could not go there because of the fog and should instead go to his flat. | Mr Donovan said he told Shannon they could not go there because of the fog and should instead go to his flat. |
According to Mr Donovan, Shannon then said: "My mum said I'll be stopping at your flat." | According to Mr Donovan, Shannon then said: "My mum said I'll be stopping at your flat." |
He told the jury he was surprised the youngster had nothing with her except the clothes she was wearing. | He told the jury he was surprised the youngster had nothing with her except the clothes she was wearing. |
Mr Conrad asked him what contact he had had with Ms Matthews during the 24 days Shannon was at his flat. | Mr Conrad asked him what contact he had had with Ms Matthews during the 24 days Shannon was at his flat. |
No toys | No toys |
He said his co-accused was supposed to ring at 2200 GMT on 19 February but did not. | He said his co-accused was supposed to ring at 2200 GMT on 19 February but did not. |
Mr Donovan said Ms Matthews rang the following day. "She told me 'Is everything all right? Is she settled down?' | Mr Donovan said Ms Matthews rang the following day. "She told me 'Is everything all right? Is she settled down?' |
Mr Donovan said he asked her why Shannon had no clothes or toys. | Mr Donovan said he asked her why Shannon had no clothes or toys. |
"She told me: 'You've got money - go and buy them'." | "She told me: 'You've got money - go and buy them'." |
Mr Donovan went on: "I asked if she wanted to speak to Shannon and she said: 'No, I've got to keep it short - stick to the plan, Mike'." | Mr Donovan went on: "I asked if she wanted to speak to Shannon and she said: 'No, I've got to keep it short - stick to the plan, Mike'." |
He said he later saw on the news that Shannon had been reported missing. | He said he later saw on the news that Shannon had been reported missing. |
"I was really shocked and thought: 'She's really gone through with it'." | "I was really shocked and thought: 'She's really gone through with it'." |
Asked what he thought he should do next, he said: "I was too terrified." | Asked what he thought he should do next, he said: "I was too terrified." |
Travel sickness | |
Mr Donovan told the jury that Shannon suffered from travel sickness and he bought tablets from a local chemist to ease her condition. | |
He said he was told by a pharmacist to give a nine-year-old girl two tablets in the morning before breakfast. | |
Mr Conrad asked him if he gave Shannon the tablets to make her more compliant and drowsy. | |
"No, it's not true, that," he said. | |
Mr Donovan told the jury he took Temazepam but denied giving any to Shannon. | |
He said he stored it in a kitchen cupboard or wall unit and said she could reach the medicine if she stood on a chair. | |
He and Ms Matthews deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. | He and Ms Matthews deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |