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| Murder victim 'tortured for cash' | Murder victim 'tortured for cash' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A "vulnerable" man was kept as a slave and tortured for his benefit money before his headless body was dumped in a Bedfordshire lake, a court has heard. | A "vulnerable" man was kept as a slave and tortured for his benefit money before his headless body was dumped in a Bedfordshire lake, a court has heard. |
| The decapitated body of 26-year-old Michael Gilbert was found in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey last May. | The decapitated body of 26-year-old Michael Gilbert was found in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey last May. |
| James Watt, 27, is accused of murder and familial homicide. Brother Robert Watt, 20, faces the same charges. | |
| Luton Crown Court heard Mr Gilbert was forced to sleep handcuffed to a bed to stop him escaping. | |
| The Watt brothers, of Chertsey Close, Luton, deny murdering Mr Gilbert on or about 21 January last year. | |
| The prosecution said the victim had suffered years of violence before being killed, his body dismembered and head cut off. | |
| The brothers' father Antonio Watt, 60, of Chertsey Close, is charged with familial homicide and perverting the course of justice. | |
| Their mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, is charged with familial homicide and two counts of perverting the course of justice. | Their mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, is charged with familial homicide and two counts of perverting the course of justice. |
| Antonio Watt is among six people facing charges | Antonio Watt is among six people facing charges |
| Nichola Roberts, 21, of Burfold Close, Luton, the girlfriend of the accused men's brother, Richard Watt, is charged with murder, familial homicide and perverting the course of justice. | |
| Natasha Oldfield, 29, of Chertsey Close, who is the girlfriend of James Watt, faces the same charges as Ms Roberts. | |
| Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC told the court that Mr Gilbert was held captive at the Watt family home and all six people charged had some responsibility for what happened to him there. | Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC told the court that Mr Gilbert was held captive at the Watt family home and all six people charged had some responsibility for what happened to him there. |
| He said family members beat Mr Gilbert and filmed the attacks on mobile phones "for entertainment". | He said family members beat Mr Gilbert and filmed the attacks on mobile phones "for entertainment". |
| The court was told he had been burnt, beaten and his body still had airgun pellets in it when it was taken from the lake. | The court was told he had been burnt, beaten and his body still had airgun pellets in it when it was taken from the lake. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |