GUILTY Wales - Gerald Corrigan, 74, killed with crossbow bolt, Holyhead, 19 April 2019

[Alyce]

The Crown Court at Mold and Caernarfon

Daily Courtroom List for Tuesday 04 February 2020

Court 2 - sitting at 10:30 am

THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE JEFFORD




Trial (Part Heard)
T20197335 WHALL Terence M 60WY5480019 CONWM Crown Prosecution Service NORTH WALES




T20197465 JONES Gavin 60WY5480019 GWYNM Crown Prosecution Service NORTH

 

[Legally Bland]

Just learning about the case now - do the prosecutors think the shot was accidental? From some of the reports, the angles and planning needed to hit Corrigan seem like the shooter would need a level of expertise.

I think they're going to say it was deliberate because of the type of arrow used, which sounds like it doesn't have a legitimate purpose in the UK.
_____

Firearms expert Mr Horne said the broadhead arrow used in the attack on Mr Corrigan had razor sharp edges used for hunting.

He said hunting animals with crossbows was illegal in the UK and broadhead arrows were not used for target practice because of the damage they can cause.

Mr Horne said he believed the shooter must have been just outside Mr Corrigan's garden, adding: "I wouldn't expect the shooter to be standing out in the open where Mr Corrigan would be able to spot him.

Crossbow 'fired from close range' in fatal attack

 

[Legally Bland]

10:58SARAH HODGSON
Trial resumes - Tuesday, February 4, 2020
The trial is resuming over the crossbow murder of Gerald Corrigan at Mold Crown Court. We’ll be bringing you all the latest.

11:00SARAH HODGSON
Witness received sports therapy sessions from Whall
The first witness today is Russell Godwin. He’s being asked about his knowledge of Terence Whall. His first contact with him was in the summer of 2014. He had an injury to his knee, and was looking for a sports therapist, so he went to see Terry. He was working on Bangor High Street at the time.

Mr Godwin had lots of sessions with him. He said he knew he eventually moved to house in Bryngwran on Anglesey and he went to that premises for treatment to his left knee.

Mr Godwin did a lot of sport and last had treatment in early March 2019.

11:09SARAH HODGSON
Whall did target practice with crossbow
Mr Godwin said he was being treated at his home in Bryngwran. He said Whall saw him outside his home with a crossbow perhaps in February, in an “adjacent field” when he was going for an appointment. He was doing target practice with his son at a hay bale.

It had a wooden frame with heavy tension wire, Mr Godwin said. “You had to stand on it, to pull it back to it,” he said.

Mr Godwin had a go and pulled the wire back to it “with some help” and said Terry helped him to do it. It was difficult he agreed. It was “very powerful”, he said. Mr Godwin had never seen a crossbow before.

11:11SARAH HODGSON
Sports therapy client describes Whall as 'professional'
Cross examination now by David Elias. Mr Elias asks about his treatment sessions with Whall. The court hears he would charge around £40 ,which came down because he was a regular customer.

Mr Godwin said he went to his home in RAF Valley. They both had an interest in martial arts. Mr Godwin said Whall seemed “very professional” and “very knowledgeable” and he recommended him to others, including an athletic club at Colwyn Bay where he went to do work.

He was received “very well” there says Mr Godwin.

Crossbow murder trial: Man treated by murder accused gives evidence

 

[Legally Bland]

11:13SARAH HODGSON
Therapy client fired crossbow before an appointment
Mr Godwin confirms he fired a crossbow on land next to Whall’s house around the end of 2018, start of 2019, but he couldn’t be sure. But he confirms Terry’s son was there and they were both doing target practice.

“What you saw was him and his son engaging in an outdoor pursuit?” “Yes that’s correct” says Mr Godwin. He confirms he fired one shot from about 15 to 20 ft. This was before his treatment.

11:15SARAH HODGSON
Whall stopped therapy sessions with witness due to health problem
A friend of Whall’s, Barry Williams, would come says Mr Eilas “sometimes just to watch” and “sometimes to participate”.

“Yes” said Mr Godwin.

Whall became unable to treat Mr Godwin because he he developed a problem with his knee and “couldn’t walk properly’ in early April, said Mr Godwin.

“He couldn’t stand properly.”

He text Mr Godwin in early April. Mr Godwin had contacted him in late March to arrange another session. Whall text on April 8 and apologised he couldn’t do the session and “he was waiting for a referral” says Mr Elias.

“Yes” says Mr Godwin.

Mr Godwin says that was what Whall told him rather than what he observed.

11:15SARAH HODGSON
Next witness called
Mr Godwin has finished giving evidence.

Hannah Salmon is due to give evidence next via video-link. There is a short break.

Crossbow murder trial: Man treated by murder accused gives evidence

 

[Legally Bland]

11:31SARAH HODGSON
Technical issues
A few technical problems with the video link at the moment. Waiting for trial to restart.

12:04SARAH HODGSON
Gavin Jones showed neighbour a crossbow
The witness, Hannah Salmon, will now be giving evidence from behind a screen.

Mrs Salmon is married to husband Carl and they live in Bryngwran, Anglesey and moved in June 2017.

Their house is “tucked in” behind another house where Gavin Jones lived. She confirms they were close neighbours.

Mrs Salmon said she would speak to Jones.

She confirms Jones said something to her about a crossbow. And showed her a what she thought was a crossbow.

“Jones said he had a crossbow?”

“Yes. He told me had a crossbow went into his house and came back out holding something in his hand wrapped in a bag and showed me a crossbow - I can’t remember what it looked like. I didn’t know what to think at the time. It was a crossbow.”

12:05SARAH HODGSON
Crossbow was in a big plastic bag
It was in a big plastic bag when he showed her. This happened about summer, 2018.

She saw it again around the same time - a different day - “I went into his house with my two dogs and it was on the sofa in the kitchen. I think it was the same bag. I couldn’t see anything inside the bag, but it was the same shape and size.”

She doesn’t remember Jones mentioning the crossbow after or what happened to it. She said she spoke to her husband about it.

12:07SARAH HODGSON
Neighbour did not mention crossbow when first spoken to by police
Cross examination on behalf of Gavin Jones now begins.

Mrs Salmon says they weren’t close friends, but agreed sometimes a dog would run over into his house and he would bring her back.

Its suggested to Mrs Salmon that she may have seen a crossbow but was not sure and “showing her a crossbow would have been a highly unusual event” - she agrees.

It is suggested on June 3 a female officer came to her house asking about matters linked to Gavin Jones. But she didn’t mention on that occasion anything about a crossbow - “I can’t remember” It was only the second time police came around when she mentioned the crossbow.

On June 26 when she spoke to police, she told the officer that she had seen him with a crossbow on one occasion and possibly a second time.

https://dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/anglesey-crossbow-murder-trial-live-17609825

 

[Legally Bland]

12:23SARAH HODGSON
Neighbour cannot be sure what was in the bag
It is suggested she gives two different times when she says she saw the crossbow. She says she is not sure.

She is asked about the bag being on the sofa in the kitchen. She said it was a bag you could reuse and was white. She says she can’t remember exactly what she saw in the bag.

“I just saw a big of similar size to what I saw before.”

She agrees she can’t be sure of what was in it. She thought it was about one and a half feet wide and two and a half feet long. It is suggested he never showed her a crossbow either “inside or out”.

She says she can’t be entirely sure, but is telling what she saw. Mrs Salmon says she is not good remembering dates. She says she thinks she remembers seeing a crossbow when he brought the bag out.

Mrs Salmon has finished giving evidence.

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
22m

Next witness is Carl Salmon the husband of Hannah Salmon.

20m

Mr Salmon confirms he had a conversation with Mrs Hannah about a crossbow some time last year - early in 2019 at their house after 5pm.


19m

Mr Salmon said she had seen a crossbow next door in Gavin’s home. He has never seen a crossbow before. “It was a very unusual thing to say” he agrees.

19m

She said it was in a bag or she saw the shape of it. That was the only time she mentioned a crossbow. She said nothing about the size or colour - but did say “it was a real crossbow.”

18m

Cross examination on behalf of Gavin Jones. Mr Salmon says “I have never seen Gavin Jones with a crossbow” or talk about one.

17m

Mr Salmon’s evidence has finished.

16m

Matter of law being discussed. Trial adjourned for an early lunch.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Mind your biscuits]

Thanks for posting updates to this thread, it's greatly appreciated.

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
25m

Trial about to resume.

17m

Det Con Christopher Walsh is giving evidence on cell site analysis regarding the investigation. Specifically the mobile phone that Whall was using at the time


15m

A mobile has a signal which comes from a mast which is also called a cell site, the court hears.


14m

If a mobile connects to a cell site - the mast covers a certain area, the court hears and most cell sites are arranged in three sectors to give 360 degree coverage - 120 degrees per sector.

12m

Each sector covers 120 degrees and when a phone connects with a mast can be anywhere in that sector. When an area is covered by more than one mast. The phone tries to use the cell that provides the best service. As a phone moves it transfers to the one providing better coverage.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
12m

Means it can be calculated where a phone is when it makes calls, receives a text or accesses data.

10m

Data records for Whall’s phone for the period on April 19 early hours, examined inclduing two locations Whall’s home address and Gof Du. 00.07 to 00.34 hours were examined or 12.07am and 12.34am


8m

Whall’s phone was receiving from 7 sites. One was “dominant” in that range and was used four times - coded red in that period and another one three times - coded blue.

7m

The blue cell serves within 205 metres of Gof Du. The red cell is within 150 metres to Gof Du.

6m

Evidence supports the device was at or in the vicinity of Gof Du when the serious assault happened - within 150 metres.

4m

Det Con Walsh says Whall’s phone was on at the time. When a phone isn’t being used, it is still “camped on a cell”. His phone was downloading data at the time - using multiple masts - but unable to say what the phone was doing.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
7m

Cross examination of Det Con Walsh, by David Elias. Det Con Walsh clarifies Whall’s phone used cells within 150 metres of Gof Du. He agrees the red cell was down to the equipment he used. But he is not saying that Whall’s phone was actually at that position.

6m

The evidence says that it could have been close to Gof Du or anywhere within that area. Det Con Walsh.

·
4m

Det Con says Whall’s mobile phone could have been at or in the vicinity of Gof Du, or could have been anywhere else in the area covered by the same site.


2m

The cell coverage can extend much further than 150 metres near Gof Du, given its a remote rural area.


1m

A phone can be put into flight mode which stops it communicating it with the network and there will be no data record until it is switched back into normal mode.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
5m

Mr Eilas hands a schedule to Det Con Walsh compiled by a police analyst about call data involving Whall and Barry Williams

2m

On April 18 Whall attempts to call Barry Williams in the afternoon numerous times. At 6.15pm a call goes through for just over four minutes from Whall to Mr Williams.

1m

11.58pm Barry Williams calls Whall.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
29m

Det Con Walsh has finished giving evidence.

29m

Short break.

5m

Andrew Townsend is giving evidence about cell site analysis.


5m

David Elias for the defence has called Mr Townsend.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[dotr]

Mr Corrigan did not die right away, that poor man must have suffered terribly, imo.

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
18m

Maps presented dealing with phone of Barry Williams being analysed.

17m

All the cell site masts utilised by Mr Williams phone are being discussed on April 11.

8m

Jury is hearing more discussions about how masts give information on where a phone can be located.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews

·
19m

Cross examination by Peter Rouch of Mr Townsend.

15m

One of Whall’s phone numbers was registered at cell sites near Gof Du on April 17, Mr Townsend agrees.

13m

Re-examination Mr Eilas. Mr Townsend says it will not pinpoint where a phone is. A cell site covers a wide area - even into the sea.

13m

Mr Townsend had finished his evidence.

2m

The trial has finished for the day.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews
·
14m

I’ll be providing live updates on the crossbow murder trial of Gerald Corrigan today from Mold Crown Court.

12m

Suzy Holmes is giving evidence via video link. She is the girlfriend of Barry Williams who knew murder accused Terrence Whall.


11m

She started a relationship with Mr Williams about September 2018. He lives in a camper van she confirms and stays with him in it from time to time, or with her mum at another address. She is a carer.

10m

Ms Holmes says she has met Whall once. She was with Barry at the time, outside Whall’s house in Bryngwran on Anglesey.

10m

She confirms Barry has family in Newborough and thinks he has friends there too.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews
·
10m

April 17/18/19 2019. Police asked Ms Holmes about her movements - she confirms she checked her work logs.

9m

Prosecuting Mr Rouch says on the Wednesday. 6.45am and finished just 1.30pm. On Wednesday evening 10pm she did a night shift until 8am Thursday April 18. Barry would pick her up in the van she said.

8m

Ms Holmes said she worked in different areas as a home carer. There are some regulars, but it can also be random. At that time she was working in Conwy and Rhos-on-Sea.

7m

At 8am Thursday Barry would have picked her up. She would sleep in the day and that would be in his camper van or another address. It would usually be in the camper van.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews
·
18m

On Thursday April 18. Ms Holmes said she remembers having a sleep in Conwy in the camper van.

18m

On Thursday night she started work at 10pm in Conwy and was with Barry before they started the shift.

16m

Ms Holmes said Barry took her to work in Conwy. “We had bit of an argument becuase I had done six weeks nights”. It was nothing major she said. He dropped her off between 9.45pm to 10pm.

15m

She had a mobile phone “which was freezing all the time” and was not working on Thursday April 18 properly. She got a new phone but didn’t remember when. She kept old phone and kept her old number.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Bagnall

@DPWrexNews
·
14m

Barry had a phone on the Thursday. She says she knows it was cracked. Barry “threw it in temper when they argued” she said. That’s how it got cracked.

13m

She works til 8am on Good Friday April 19. Ms Holmes picked Barry up from work and saw him on the Friday morning, she confirms. There was nothing different about them and then “we went for breakfast” and then she slept in th e van.

13m

She says she has never been to Porthdafarch Beach on Anglesey. They normall go to his parents in Newborough.

13m

Cross-examination by David Elias.

11m

Mr Elias asks what the date of Ms Holmes police statement is. She says July 7 2019. That was the first time anybody had asked her to think back to that time, he asks. “Yes” she says.

Steve Bagnall (@DPWrexNews) | Twitter