Court hears fire victim had own attack plan

A Shropshire pawnbroker who died after petrol and kerosene was thrown over him and set alight was planning to set fire to the two men charged with his murder, a court heard.

George Black, 41, of The Square, Bucknell, planned with Glynn Powell to take Robert Field and Gareth Powell to woods and "torch them" over his partner's relationship with one of them, Worcester Crown Court was told yesterday.

Field, 22, of Etnam Street, Leominster and Powell, 29, of The Grove, Shobdon, Leominster have both denied murdering Mr Black who died two days after he was set on fire at his home on December 8 last year.

George Black's partner, Sylvia Marie Smith, 22, of Cherrybrook Close, Hope-under-Dinmore, Leominster, has denied conspiracy to murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Her mother Sylvia Jane Smith, 42, and stepfather, Steven Smith, 45, have both denied attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Burnt

In police interviews read out in court, Steven Smith said: "I heard in George Black's shop that he would definitely find out that evening whether there was anything between him and Sylvia and once he got Rob up in the woods and burnt him with a blow lamp he would find out whether it was true."

The jury heard Steven Smith had told Powell and Field and had said Mr Black was coming for them. Steven Smith said Field had replied "We will see."

The court had previously heard Sylvia Marie Smith was having an affair with Field and believed she was carrying his child.

In police interviews she said her relationship with Field was purely sexual, she loved Mr Black.

She told police she remembered liquid being thrown over Mr Black, but not how it had been ignited.

She said: "Even though we argued, fell out and George hit me, I would never want anyone to hurt him.

"If I had known Rob was ever thinking of doing anything like this, I would've tried my best to stop him."

She added: "No matter how friendly me and Rob were, he killed my partner who I was going to marry, things will never be the same again."

The trial continues.

By Hannah Costigan