This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-17493176

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Shawn Tyson 'told friend about killings' in Florida Shawn Tyson trial: Jurors told of prison phone call
(about 2 hours later)
A teenager accused of murdering two British tourists told a friend he had killed them, a court in Florida heard. A teenager accused of murdering two British tourists said on the phone that bullet casings found by police could "f*** him up", a Florida court heard.
James Cooper, 25, from Hampton Lucy, near Warwick, and James Kouzaris, 24, from Northampton, were shot dead in the Newton area of Sarasota last April. The court was played the recording of the call Shawn Tyson, 17, made to his half brother from prison.
Shawn Tyson, 17, who denies two counts of first-degree murder, faces life in prison without parole if convicted. Mr Tyson denies murdering James Cooper, 25, of Warwickshire and James Kouzaris, 24, from Northampton, who were shot dead in Sarasota last April.
Detective John Todd told the court Mr Tyson allegedly told his friend Marvin Gaines he had killed the men. Mr Tyson allegedly told a friend he had killed the men, the court was told.
Mr Tyson, who was 16 at the time of the murders, has been charged as an adult.
Mr Cooper and Mr Kouzaris were found shirtless and with their trousers round their thighs after being shot several times.Mr Cooper and Mr Kouzaris were found shirtless and with their trousers round their thighs after being shot several times.
At the opening of the trial on Thursday, the court heard Mr Tyson allegedly tried to rob the men who had drunkenly walked into a rundown public housing project known as The Courts. Mr Tyson allegedly tried to rob the men who had drunkenly walked into a rundown public housing project in Newtown known as The Courts, the court has heard.
'Gun hidden' The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the deaths, has been charged as an adult.
Prosecutor Karen Frailling asked Det Todd at the hearing on Friday: "Did Marvin Gaines also say that Shawn Tyson told him 'I killed those two guys, you know those two bodies back there, I did that?" 'DNA on clothes'
Det Todd replied: "He said that Tyson escorted him into the apartment so that nobody else could hear and told him that he killed the two people at the back of the projects." Mr Tyson, who denies two counts of first-degree murder, faces life in prison without parole if convicted.
At the hearing on Friday, the court was played a call Mr Tyson made from Sarasota County Jail which was recorded by police.
In the conversation, Mr Tyson tells his half-brother "Somebody say they saw me out there..", adding: "they found the bullets".
Asked about the discovery, the defendant replies: "It's the only thing that's going to f*** me up."
The jury was told that Mr Tyson's DNA was found on James Cooper's trousers and was shown the bloodstained clothes.
Earlier, Detective John Todd told the court Mr Tyson allegedly told his friend Marvin Gaines he had killed the men.
Prosecutor Karen Frailling asked Mr Todd, the lead detective in the case: "Did Marvin Gaines also say that Shawn Tyson told him 'I killed those two guys, you know those two bodies back there, I did that?"
Mr Todd replied: "He said that Tyson escorted him into the apartment so that nobody else could hear and told him that he killed the two people at the back of the projects."
Mr Gaines told police the defendant had hidden the gun used under his house, then Mr Gaines had passed this to another friend, the court heard.Mr Gaines told police the defendant had hidden the gun used under his house, then Mr Gaines had passed this to another friend, the court heard.
Mr Cooper and Mr Kouzaris were on holiday with Mr Cooper's family when they were killed in the early hours of 16 April. Mr Cooper, of Hampton Lucy, and Mr Kouzaris were on holiday with Mr Cooper's family when they were killed in the early hours of 16 April.
The detective told the court there could be a "thousand different reasons" why the victims were found with their trousers pulled down. The detective said "all the evidence pointed to an attempted robbery" as the reason the victims had their trousers pulled down.
He added: "In this case, all the evidence pointed to an attempted robbery."
Defence lawyer Carolyn Schlemmer told the court few people had been honest with police in the case - some had been threatened while some had been offered plea deals or benefits to encourage them to testify.Defence lawyer Carolyn Schlemmer told the court few people had been honest with police in the case - some had been threatened while some had been offered plea deals or benefits to encourage them to testify.
She asked Mr Todd: "Very few people in this case were initially truthful to you, correct?"She asked Mr Todd: "Very few people in this case were initially truthful to you, correct?"
The officer replied: "Correct". The officer replied: "Correct."
Jurors heard Mr Gaines was told by police that it was in his interest to be on the side of Sarasota Police Department.Jurors heard Mr Gaines was told by police that it was in his interest to be on the side of Sarasota Police Department.
Mr Todd admitted saying: "You could be at the defence table with Shawn, is that where you want to be?"Mr Todd admitted saying: "You could be at the defence table with Shawn, is that where you want to be?"
The court was told Joshua Bane, a witness and friend of Mr Tyson's, was apparently not arrested over reports he was seen waving a gun around the housing project area.The court was told Joshua Bane, a witness and friend of Mr Tyson's, was apparently not arrested over reports he was seen waving a gun around the housing project area.
The trial continues.The trial continues.