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Joss Stone murder plot accused had never heard of her, he tells court

Kevin Liverpool and Junior Bradshaw were arrested on June 13 this year, close to the Devon home of singer Joss Stone Photo: PA

Joss Stone murder plot accused had never heard of her, he tells court

One of the men accused of plotting to kill Joss Stone had never heard of her and thought he was "just going on a day out" in Devon on the morning he was arrested, he claimed today.

By Hayley Dixon

2:22PM GMT 25 Mar 2013

Junior Bradshaw, 32, and co-accused Kevin Liverpool, 35, were stopped at around 9am on June 13 near Cullompton in Devon, few miles from the singer’s home, having driven down from Manchester in a Fiat Punto.

It is alleged that they equipped themselves with a samurai sword, body bags, balaclavas and gaffer tape, before driving 230 miles to Devon to target the wealthy young soul singer at her home.

Handwritten notes found in the pair’s possession referred to Stone as a “she-devil” and outlined a plan to decapitate her before dumping her body in a river, Exeter Crown Court was told.

However, they were arrested near the star’s house before they could execute their plot after first crashing their small Fiat Punto on the way to Devon and then arousing suspicion among “eagle-eyed” locals when they got lost.

The two men, both of St Stephen's Close, Manchester, deny charges of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to rob

Giving evidence today, Bradshaw told his defence counsel, Martin Meeke QC, that he did not know where he was going when the pair set off, seven hours before their arrest in Devon. He also said he had never heard of the 25-year-old pop star before.

Mr Meeke said: "The day you were arrested - you and Liverpool set off from his flat in Manchester, didn't you?"

Bradshaw replied: "I think so." Asked who had the idea to go, Bradshaw again said he could not remember.

Mr Meeke asked Bradshaw where the pair were going, to which the defendant replied: "We were just going on a day out."

He said he did not remember what time they left, or where they were going.

Mr Meeke asked: "Do you remember what you were going to do when you arrived where you were going?"

Bradshaw, dressed in a dark hooded top, said: "No."

The defendant told the court he used to listen to R&B and hip-hop at the flat with his co-accused.

Asked by Mr Meeke if he had ever heard Liverpool mention the name "Joss Stone", Bradshaw, speaking with a soft northern accent, said: "No."

He denied having heard of soul singer Miss Stone - who gave evidence last week - before the case against him started.

Bradshaw was asked several questions about the events leading up to his arrest, but said he could not remember or did not know the answers to them.

He also told the court he could not remember details about his previous time in prison, including for exposure, but said he had been treated in hospital in Manchester for schizophrenia.

He denied asking a postman in Devon where Miss Stone lived - contradicting evidence from local postman Alex Greening, who last week told the court he was on his rounds on the morning of June 13 2011 when he was approached by two men in a car inquiring about Miss Stone.

Mr Greening said the occupants appeared to be lost, driving at around 10mph, a few miles from Miss Stone's home. He said they showed him a photo of Miss Stone, but told them he did not know where she lived.

Asked by Mr Meeke if the pair had driven from Manchester to Devon to kill the singer, to do her serious harm or to rob her, Bradshaw replied: "No."

Under cross-examination Simon Morgan QC, prosecuting, asked Bradshaw again what he thought he and Liverpool were doing when they left Manchester in the early hours. Bradshaw replied again: "Just going on a day out."

Mr Morgan replied: "You left at 2am. You know the difference between night and day. So where could you be going at 2am?"

Bradshaw, originally from Huddersfield, replied: "I don't know."

THE INDEPENDENT