ONE of the defendants accused of murdering an Exeter man at his home took to the witness stand today to deny playing any part in the attack.
Ryan Singleton is one of five men on trial at Exeter Crown Court over the death of Stephen Crook at his home in Alphington Road on November 21 last year.
The prosecution says a former neighbour of Mr Crook Steven Webster, who is now living in Okehampton, identified him as a potential target for a robbery by four men from Coventry who had come to Devon to buy and take drugs.
Mr Crook was attacked while his partner was out buying a Chinese takeaway.
The prosecution closed its case today by showing CCTV footage of the defendants in Sainsburys in Exeter shortly before the attack. One of the defendants Darren Twigger is seen buying four knives from a self-service checkout.
The defence case began this afternoon with testimony from Singleton who said his intention when he travelled from his home in Coventry to Devon was solely to 'purchase some drugs for someone."
He said he went to the victim's home as "that was where I was meant to buy the drugs from."
"I did not intend for him to be attacked or robbed and I was not aware of anyone else intending to attack or rob him," he told the jury.
"I did not play any part in the attack on him and I did not steal anything from him or his home," he added.
Steven Webster, aged 40, of East Street, Okehampton; Ryan Singleton, aged 26, of Howcotte Green, Canley, Coventry; Darren Twigger, aged 40, of John Rous Avenue, Canley; Bradley Richardson, aged 18, of Prior Deram Walk, Canley; and Anthony Martin, aged 22, of Gerard Avenue, Canley, all deny murder and robbery.
Singleton said he was living in Coventry at his parents' home in November last year. He told the jury he had known Webster for around three years when they were both serving prison sentences together at Channings Wood prison in Newton Abbot.
"We got on well and I helped him in the prison environment," he said.
Singleton said he "worked" with Antony Martin in the drug dealing business. He said they would take orders on the phone and then drop the drugs off.
"I used to get the drugs off Anthony Martin, sell them and get a cut out of it," he said.
"I knew Anthony was having problems with his supply of drugs. He owed a large amount of money to someone – just over £10,000.
"He told me someone had threatened to stab his mum. This was no joke – this was serious stuff.
"He was no longer able to get drugs how he once did so he asked me to help get a large amount of heroin. I had become close to Webster in prison and he had told me about a big drug dealer he knew.
"We stayed in contact and ten months later I asked him about if he could get drugs for us. He arranged it so we could pick up a tester. "
Singleton said he travelled down with Anthony Martin and Darren Twigger on Monday, November 18. They met with Webster at his father`s house in Okehampton and then travelled to Bodmin Moor services on the A30 where they bought an ounce of heroin from a dealer called "Merv" for £800.
He said: "Webster was my contact so I was going to earn £100 from the deal. The arrangement was if it was any good we were going to buy a lot more."
The trio then returned to Coventry and Singleton said that users were impressed with the heroin.
"The reports we got back was that it was a lot better and a lot cheaper than what we were getting before," said Singleton.
He said they made another trip down the next day with the intention of buying nine ounces for just over £7,000.
"Anthony Martin was going to buy it – I assumed he had the money."
The group failed to locate Webster when they arrived to Okehampton so returned to Coventry.
Singleton will resume his testimony at Exeter Crown Court tomorrow.
The jury has been told the five defendants believed Crook had £20,000 in cash or drugs at his house but escaped with only around £1,000, jewellery, a laptop and other valuables.
The trial continues.
