Stabbed to death over £20

Published on 14th December 2006 in News

A crack dealer stabbed a Goole man in the chest with a carving knife and later confessed to his father that he had done something bad and thought he had killed a guy, Hull Crown Court heard this week.

James Russell (27), of Warrow Road, Liverpool - also known as Jack - killed 33-year-old Shane Farmery with a single stab in the yard of a house in Byron Street, Goole, in an alleged drug dispute on May 3 this year.

Mr Farmery, of Cheviot Road in Goole, had no money and walked to the house at around 11am carrying two plastic bags with a PlayStation and games inside intending to sell or barter with them, said barrister Gary Burrell, QC.

Mr Farmery, a frequent heroin user, was a regular visitor to Byron Street, and was heard arguing inside with Mr Russell by Nigel Oldridge, who had gone there to buy crack cocaine and had two £10 notes in his hand, the jury heard.

Mr Burrell said Mr Farmery, who was due to become a first-time dad to twins just weeks after his death, had snatched the two £10 notes from Mr Oldridge after he refused to buy heroin from James Russell and share it with him.

"It was at that stage it is alleged that Russell got a knife from the kitchen table and went over to Farmery telling him to give the money back. Farmery still refused to do so."

Mr Burrell said the incident escalated into shouting after Mr Oldridge left with the drugs.

"After Oldridge left, Russell pushed Farmery into the yard," said Mr Burrell. "Russell followed Farmery out and there was a confrontation between the two of them. It was at this point the Crown say Russell stabbed Farmery in the back yard."

Mr Burrell said Christopher Laws had been allowing his house to be used to sell drugs and watched what was going on from the kitchen window.

"Laws saw Russell walk back to the house carrying the knife in his hand," said Mr Burrell. "He also saw Farmery holding his chest underneath his armpit.

"Once back in the house, Laws heard Russell say: "F*** me. I've just stabbed him." He seemed shocked. Russell then phoned 999 on his mobile."

Christopher Laws (38) took the witness stand on Tuesday and told the court how he had been allowing his home to be used as a drugs den by a man he knew as Jack from Liverpool - in return for drugs to feed his own £30-a-day habit.

Mr Laws said an argument developed over Shane Farmery snatching £20 from Nigel Oldridge, who had arrived at his home on May 3.

Mr Laws said 'Jack' told Shane: "You're out of order."

Mr Laws continued: "I didn't want a fight in the house. Jack got up and started pushing Shane. He was saying 'Give him it back,' in a heated way."

He said Jack pushed Mr Farmery into the back yard then came back after a scuffle and snatched something from the kitchen.

Christopher Laws said: "I looked out the window. Jack was thumping him. I could see a motion. I don't know if it was a thump or a stab. Shane was trying to protect himself with his arms.

"Jack turned around and came back towards the house I saw he had a knife in his hand, point up from his fist."

He said the blood-soaked carving knife was thrown in the sink.

Mr Laws said: "Jack said 'F*** me. My God, I've just stabbed him.'."

Mr Laws admitted Mr Russell went out to help Shane Farmery into the house where he was sat on a kitchen chair. Shane took off a fleece and put it under his arm.

James Russell, who is charged with murder, then called the ambulance on his mobile and handed it to Mr Laws before taking it back again and alerting them.

Mr Laws said Mr Farmery staggered outside so the ambulance could get to him more quickly. He fell on his side. He confirmed that Mr Farmery's mother, who had by pure coincidence been visiting the area, came across Mr Laws and her son. Mr Laws said: "She said: 'That's my son. What has happened to him?'."

He admitted she was very upset and stayed, helping Shane, while first neighbours, the police, then the ambulance arrived.

Under cross-examination from Peter Kelson, QC, Mr Laws admitted heroin affected his memory and he was wrong about Mr Russell returning to get a knife. He admitted he had initially told lies to the police in interview to distance himself from the crime.

He admitted in cross-examination that he did not want the police to know his house was a drugs den. He said he initially told police the fight had happened outside his yard, and he and his girlfriend knew nothing of drugs being sold in the house.

Mr Laws admitted he had two Liverpool men staying at his house for more than a month supplying drugs. He denied supplying drugs to Mr Farmery for eight months. He said drugs dealing had carried on, with Mr Russell involved in an ongoing drugs supply business.

He told Mr Kelson he was happy enough to allow his house to be used as a drugs den. He had earlier told the jury both heroin and crack cocaine was for sale. He said Mr Russell was known as a generous dealer, giving £20 dealer amounts for £10. He said the operation would net £2,000 over two days.

He continued: "Sometimes he would go back to Liverpool and get more drugs. He would come and stay for a few days."

Mr Kelson said it was not in dispute that Mr Russell had the knife in his hand and caused Mr Farmery's death.

The court was told Mr Laws has admitted an offence of allowing his home to be used to supply drugs and was sentenced a month ago for that.

Mr Burrell said the wound to Mr Farmery's chest was entirely typical of a deliberate stab to the chest. He said: "A number of witnesses refer to Russell possessing a knife during the course of their drug purchases from him. Sometimes it was in a fireguard. Sometimes in a chair.

"The background to these offences involves the supply of controlled drugs, heroin and cocaine, by Russell to users in the Goole area.

"Russell has family connections and a fixed address in Liverpool but with Barry Woods he would travel to Goole on a regular basis to supply drugs from Byron Street."

Mr Russell denies the charge of murder, saying he acted in self defence. He told police the knife had been dropped in an initial scuffle and it came from Shane Farmery. He said he picked it up in fear as he alleged Mr Farmery was attempting to pick up a brick.

He said he stabbed Mr Farmery in the right leg to scare him, but he spun around and the knife went into Farmery's chest. Mr Burrell said after Mr Russell had left the scene Shane Farmery died from a chest stab wound at 1.15pm that day.

Mr Burrell said Mr Russell had returned to his sister's in Colby Close, Chilwell, and his mother and father were contacted.

"He told his father he had done something bad and he had thought he had killed a guy," said Mr Burrell. "He repeated an account he gave to police of Farmery having a brick. Mr Russell, senior, contacted a friend, who advised him that his son should hand himself in. This occurred later that day in Liverpool. On May 4 Russell was arrested on suspicion of murder. Mr Woods was arrested a few hours earlier."

The jury has been told Mr Russell has pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs but denies a charge of murder. They have also been told Barry Woods (34), of Byng Road in Liverpool, has admitted a charge of assisting Mr Russell by hiding a knife used in the killing in a wheelie bin. Mr Woods was not involved in the assault.

The trial continues.