Found Deceased UK - William "Bill" Taylor, 70, Gosmore, Hertfordshire, 3 June 2018

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  • #161
  • #162
Hi Tortoise,
This is the first crime for me to see through from the start, whilst waiting for it to start I read through the numorous threads of Helen Bailey's trial, how unusual is this please? .
 
  • #163
  • #164
English007 said:
This is frustrating, Who are these witnesses what did they see/ hear, Other than being at the court daily is there no way of knowing what is happening?? Thank you Alyce for your contributions so far.
Click to expand...

It's a pain but it happens sometimes. This case has not really made headlines so the best we can hope for will be some local coverage. I think the Comet will do something, but possibly only on days when the accused give evidence - if they do.
 
  • #165
English007 said:
Hi Tortoise,
This is the first crime for me to see through from the start, whilst waiting for it to start I read through the numorous threads of Helen Bailey's trial, how unusual is this please? .
Click to expand...
I've never followed a trial where witnesses gave evidence before the jury was sworn in. I would only be guessing that it was for the judge's benefit, to test whether the case could proceed, on a challenge of the defence? I don't know, does anyone have any other ideas?
 
  • #166
  • #167
Tortoise said:
I've never followed a trial where witnesses gave evidence before the jury was sworn in. I would only be guessing that it was for the judge's benefit, to test whether the case could proceed, on a challenge of the defence? I don't know, does anyone have any other ideas?
Click to expand...

The only other explanation I can come up with - and this probably sounds odd - is if these 3 witnesses ( who all gave evidence for about 10-12 minutes only ) were police officers who were not able to be at the court later that day or on subsequent days, and so they gave testimony which would be recorded and then read to the Jurors at a later time in the trial.
 
  • #168
Updates !

A wealthy farmer from Gosmore was murdered by his estranged wife and her lover who had a "venomous hatred" for him, a jury heard during the opening of the trial today.

William Taylor was loathed by his younger wife Angela and her new partner Paul Cannon who would drive cars at him, shout abuse and set alight his Land Rover, the court was told.


Estranged wife and lover murdered Gosmore farmer over 'venomous hatred', court hears



full story at the link ............
 
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  • #169
Opening the case, prosecutor John Price QC said the 69-year-old was reported missing to the police by his lodger Richard Lush on the evening of June 4 last year

so it looks as though the lodger was not home on the night Bill disappeared and didnt know he was missing until the following evening.
 
  • #170
The prosecutor said the killing was carried out by Paul Cannon and a work associate, Gwyn Griffiths.
 
  • #171
In April 2014, Ms Taylor filed for a divorce and instructed a solicitor to seek a financial settlement.

In the deed of separation Bill Taylor and his son Richard - took out a £1 million loan so Ms Taylor could acquire, debt-free, Mill Farm and Dog Kennell Farm near Hitchin.

But it was alleged Ms Taylor was still accessing Harkness Hall accounts and referred to Richard Taylor as being "greedy". She is alleged to have said: "I can get rid of the Taylors anytime - whenever I want. I will get someone in Yorkshire to sort it out."

Mr Cannon, the jury heard, had split from his wife in October 2017 and lodged rent free with Mr Taylor until January 2018.

Estranged wife and lover murdered Gosmore farmer over 'venomous hatred', court hears



AT and PC sound like a perfect greedy match for each other. A very generous settlement was given to her and he lodged rent free.
 
  • #172
Thanks for all the updates,Alyce.
A million pounds and still she was not satisfied.
 
  • #173
Well I need to reread to digest but a little in shock, I don't get the charges why AT not conspiracy and GG not murder, if he was there on the evening with PC and she was in bed.
 
  • #174
English007 said:
Well I need to reread to digest but a little in shock, I don't get the charges why AT not conspiracy and GG not murder, if he was there on the evening with PC and she was in bed.
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They are all facing a charge of murder and conspiracy to murder..

I think the prosecution are just anticipating the defence argument, as they may be going to claim that AT did not physically carry out the actual murder.
 
  • #175
"WhatsApp messages recovered from Cannon’s phone between him and Angela Taylor “reveal a pervasive, bitter hatred for Mr Taylor”, and the pair discussed harming him, Price said.

Jurors will hear a transcript of hundreds of messages on Thursday, and were told by Price that the pair had expressed concern about the exchanges being discovered by police.

[...]

DNA on the towel matched the profile of Cannon and also of Gavin Foulds, the adult son of Angela Taylor from a relationship before she met Bill, who was living with her at the time on Mill farm.

Price said: “At the very least, submits the prosecution, this scientific evidence shows where the fabric used by the arsonist to start the fire came from – Mill farm, the home of Angela Taylor.”

Wife of wealthy farmer 'encouraged lover to murder husband'
 
  • #176
No idea what yesterday was all about, but it's good to see we're getting some reporting.
 
  • #177
On July 1 last year, almost a month after William Taylor had last been seen, his grandson Ben Taylor found a link from his arthritis bracelet on the ground in the yard at Harkness Hall, near to the cattle shed.

Mr Price said it raised the possibility he had been involved in some sort of violent struggle in his yard on the night of June 3 to 4.

On October 4, 2018 there was a breakthrough that brought evidence crucial to the investigation.

'In the digital recess was a vast catalogue of WhatsApp messages - text messages exchanged through WhatsApp. In total 28,238. The earliest was dated 12 February last year. and the last July 31,' Mr Price said.

[...]

On February 16 Angela was concerned about the security of WhatsApp and expressed concern about using WhatsApp messages.

Paul Cannon replied: 'WhatsApp safe.'

The prosecutor said: 'It shows as early as February 2018 they realised what they had in mind, might bring them into contact with the police.'

A selection of the messages, voiced by a male and female, are due to be played to the jury tomorrow.

Wealthy farmer, 69, 'was murdered by his estranged wife and her new lover' | Daily Mail Online
 
  • #178
What a wicked horrible greedy pair. Looks like they have plenty of evidence anyway. MOO.
 
  • #179
Messages read to the court included references to pickaxes, chainsaws and barbed wire.

Various scenarios were discussed in the messages and Mrs Taylor described them as "a turn on".

[...]

The court heard Mrs Taylor sent a message to Mr Cannon around the time the vehicle was torched, reading: "Darling you light my fire. Xxxx."

Farmer's wife 'fantasised about killing him'
 
  • #180
I feel sorry for the defence in this trial, it's hard to argue the defendants didn't send all the incriminating messages. There will also be lots of phone ping data to show where they both were at the time of the messages. I do like trials that have a massive digital jigsaw of solid evidence.
 
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