Accused found guilty of threats to kill Oswestry man
A 22-year-old man has been convicted of threatening to kill an Oswestry man who was later stabbed in a dispute over money.
Luke Cross was also found guilty of threatening to burn down Barry Wright's home in phone calls to the victim's daughter.
The jury at Stafford Crown Court heard that three other men – Arsene Cubaka, Telmo Bernardo and Nathan McCarthy – had all pleaded guilty to offences relating to the attack on Mr Wright in January at a property at Castlefields in Oswestry.
Cross, of Mount View, Sutton Coldfield, had denied two charges of making threats to kill and a threat to cause criminal damage.
The jury heard Cross and his three associates were said to be involved in the supply of drugs. Mr Wright was a cocaine addict and the attack on him was motivated by Cross and the others believing he had taken some money.
On January 23 Mr Wright was attacked at a friend's house and suffered a stab wound to the left side of his back causing injuries to his spleen and a kidney which had to be removed.
He lived in Queen Elizabeth Drive in Oswestry and his daughter lived at the same address. Georgia Wright knew Cross and the other men and had a casual relationship with the defendant who was known to be one of the sources of drugs for her father. Miss Wright had "looked after" money for the men.
The threats were made by Cross in phone calls to Miss Wright when it was discovered the money – said to be £600 – was missing.
Miss Wright said that Cross told her that her father would be killed and his home burned down and his intention was that she would believe the threats would be carried out if the money was not repaid.
Judge Michael Chambers QC adjourned sentence on Cross, Bernardo, 18, of Glau Gors, Caia Park,Wrexham; McCarthy, 22, of Abdon Avenue, Selly Oak, Birmingham, and Cubaka, 23 of Somerton Court, Erdington, Birmingham, to a date to be fixed. All four men remain in custody.
