Chester murder trial: Accused may have taken drugs before stabbing incident

Jul 8 2010 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

Jason Howells

MURDER accused Jason Howells may have taken cocaine before stabbing drug dealer Fynn Western-Davey in the heart, a court heard.

Prosecutor Michael Chambers QC told the Chester Crown Court jury a blood sample showed Howells had ingested the class A drug, adding that this could induce increased aggression and paranoia.

“It is suggested he may have taken multi uses of cocaine before the incident,” added Mr Chambers, who said there was also evidence of cannabis use.

Howells is jointly charged with his girlfriend Nicola Bishop of murdering Mr Western-Davey at their Balmoral Park home, Chester, on January 23 after allegedly confronting him over missing drugs they believed he had stolen. They both deny the charge.

The prosecution claims it was Howells who caused the 14cm deep wound with a kitchen knife.

Bishop, who refused to give a blood sample, is accused of playing a secondary “encouraging role” with no evidence she took part in the attack itself.

Mr Chambers said an expert had concluded it was unlikely the deceased could have impaled himself. The deceased’s blood showed evidence of cannabis use but no alcohol in his system.

The prosecution says evidence that Howells was capable of aggression is contained in a statement, read to the court, by a wheel clamper called to release the Renault Megane convertible sports car owned by Bishop.

The incident happened on the afternoon prior to the stabbing at The Leadworks flats in Chester after the car was parked on a ramp leading to an underground car park.

The clamper was so fearful Howells was about to attack him that he locked himself in his van and drove into car park and used his fob to remotely bring down the shutters.

After Howells calmed down the clamper made him pass the £150 release fee through his van window. Having released the car, the defendant became aggressive again and threatened that “his lads” would damage his van. As the clamper drove away he heard a bang at the rear of his vehicle but there was no sign of any damage.

The prosecution says stabbing victim Mr Western-Davey was selling drugs in league with Howells and had regular access to Bishop’s car, as on this occasion.

It is alleged it was he who deliberately parked in a spot where he knew he would be clamped to create a diversion and draw Howells away from his home so Mr Western-Davey’s accomplice Steven Randalls could steal the defendants’ drugs stash hidden in the guttering of their next door neighbour’s garage.

Andrew Davies, a bank manager for Lloyds in Chester city centre and a friend of Howells and Bishop, gave evidence that he helped calm the situation down during the wheel-clamping incident which happened where he lives at The Leadworks.

And it emerged this was not the first time he had acted as peacemaker.

Guy Gozem QC, representing Howells, said the witness had helped the couple “work through” difficulties after Howells confided in him that he had been seeing somebody else. But asked if Howells’ behaviour had ever given him cause for concern, he replied: “Not at all”.

Evidence from Mr Davies’ mobile phone provided an insight into just how frightened the prosecution says Bishop was about the potential consequences of upsetting their Birkenhead drugs supplier ‘Mark’, who was already putting pressure on Howells to get his money back even before the stash went missing.

She told him in a text: “This has to stop, Andy, because Mark is on his case. Is there any way you can think of for me to get this cash together to pay Mark off? I will take it on my head but this has to end or he will be back in jail. I’m really scared.”

Andrew Thomas QC, representing Bishop, said his client had been going out with Howells since January last year.

Asking about Howells and Bishops’ relationship, Mr Thomas questioned Mr Davies: “Is it quite clear she doted on him?” He replied in the affirmative.

He asked Mr Davies to confirm he was aware she had worked as a dancer at the Platinum Lounge gentlemen’s club in Chester and as a self-employed stripper.

Mr Davies said he was aware of her work and that she was “very intelligent” and studying forensic science. Asked if she was pleasant in her manner, he replied: “Yes, absolutely”.

Mr Davies trusted Bishop to the extent that he had lent her £5,000 to buy her silver Megane sports car to enable her to drive to Staffordshire University.

Just moments before the fatal stabbing, at 6.03pm, Mr Davies returned a missed call from Bishop which was picked up by Howells who apologised for the wheel-clamping incident and seemed “perfectly fine, calm”.

The trial continues.