Three killers beat a housemate to death until his
Three killers beat a housemate to death until his face was ‘unrecognisable’ then literally rubbed salt into his wounds, the Old Bailey heard.
Terrence Phair, 48, had offered the two of the gang shelter when they had nowhere to go, the court was told.
But Timothy Cronin, 30, and Tina Fowler, together with friend Stephen Jones, 38, repaid his hospitality by ending his life in the sadistic torture session, it was alleged.
Fowler, who was Cronin’s girlfriend escaped justice when she committed suicide committed suicide seven months ago.
Cronin has admitted manslaughter and Jones alone stands accused of murder, a charge he denies.
The court heard Fowler and Cronin met their victim in an alcohol rehab centre in Beckenham, Kent and stayed in touch after they left.
Mr Phair eventually invited the couple to move in to his flat in (3) Burchell Road, Peckham.
On the day of the killing, February 8 this year, the three friends met up for an all-day cider and lager drinking session at Jones’ home in Carlton Grove, Peckham.
At the flat Fowler attacked Jones’ housemate, Geoffrey Boynton, hospitalising him for five days in a chilling foretaste of what was to come, the jury heard.
Prosecutor Mr Mark Dennis said: ‘They had drunk a great deal and the conversation turned to Mr Boynton’s late wife.
‘Fowler attacked him, thinking he had been involved in her death.
‘
Bloodied and battered Mr Boynton eventually fled to an off-licence where he called for an ambulance.
‘The incident was a fore-shadowing of something that was to come later that evening,’ the prosecutor added.
The trio then went to Mr Phair’s home to carry on their session and to kill the victim.
Mr Dennis said: ‘This was a prolonged and violent attack with blows directed to his face and head, the most serious of which included stamping on his head.
‘His face was left unrecognisable and in a final gesture of contempt to the hapless victim, salt poured over his wounds.
‘Mr Phair was obviously overwhelmed by the attack
and was unable to defend himself or escape from the flat.
‘
After the attack Jones rang the police from a call box to confess to the earlier attack on Mr Boynton.
‘He pretended to be Mr Boynton saying it was Stephen Jones (himself) who attacked him,’ said Mr Dennis.
‘Naming himself was an attempt in his drunken thinking to distance himself from what had just occurred a little earlier.
‘He was trying to create some form of excuse or alibi.
‘
Jones, from Oldham, then begged passers-by to help him with Mr Phair.
He stopped one woman shouting, ‘Quick, help, some one has battered my mate.
‘
When the woman went to help in Mr Phair’s bloodied flat, ‘she encountered a terrible scene,’ said Mr Dennis.
The barrister said Fowler and Cronin were ‘bloodstained, loud, unsteady on their feet, excitable and hysterical.
‘
Fowler was trying to resuscitate the victim by giving him heart massage.
‘Their drunken condition may explain their violent conduct but will not excuse it,’ Mr Dennis.
Jones, who also has drink problems, was staying with his friend, Mr Boynton, in nearby (82) Carlton Grove.
Cronin denied murder, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
Jones, known by the nickname Manchester Steve, denies murder and the trial continues.
ends
