Chester murder trial: Accused weeps as court hears transcript of 999 call

Jul 8 2010 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

Nicola Bishop

MURDER accused Nicola Bishop wiped tears from her eyes as the transcript of a 999 call she made to the ambulance service was read out in court.

A jury at Chester Crown Court heard the call was made as she was at the side of victim Fynn Western-Davey, who was lying dead on the floor of the kitchen at her Balmoral Park home in Chester with a stab wound to his heart.

The prosecution allege her boyfriend Jason Howells had just delivered the fatal blow and she was a party to his intention to cause him really serious harm in the incident shortly after 6pm on January 23.

According to the transcript Bishop, who called 999 at 6.13pm, told the female operator: “I’ve got no pulse, I’ve got no breathing.”

The operator attempted to calm Bishop and get her to try and save the victim’s life but it appeared to be too late.

“I think he might be dead,” said Bishop. When the operator said they needed to help the man, she replied: “I’m trying.”

She also told what the prosecution say was a lie when she informed the operator: “He just stormed into the house. He was coming to attack me and my boyfriend.”

Listening to the evidence in the public gallery was the victim’s mother Lou Davey, who runs a school for excluded children in Blacon, as well as Bishop’s parents and sister.

The court had previously heard how, just moments earlier, Adrian Gardner heard a fracas next door while visiting his ex-wife.

Mr Chambers said: “He heard a commotion coming from within the kitchen of number 46. It sounded like furniture being disturbed, glass smashing and then he saw the silhouette of someone being pinned against the inside of the rear door to number 46.”

Mr Chambers explained the window in the door was opaque and Mr Gardner couldn’t tell who this was.

Crucially, he heard the voice of Nicola Bishop shouting: “Stop it Jason,” and she sounded distressed.

The prosecution say that what Mr Gardner witnessed was Howells and Mr Western-Davey grappling with each other after the fatal stab had been delivered. Mr Chambers argued Bishop’s plea came far too late.

Earlier in the day Mr Gardner had seen another man, now known to be Steven Randalls, acting suspiciously in the defendants’ garden.

The prosecution say he had been sent by Mr Western-Davey to steal their stash of crack cocaine and heroin from the guttering of next door’s garage.

But this task may have been aborted after he was spotted and Mr Western-Davey is known to have briefly visited the outside of the property in secret, perhaps to take the drugs himself.

When the neighbours mentioned to Bishop about the first suspicious man she was so upset she began retching in the street, the court was told.

She made a call to Mr Western-Davey at 5.58pm, which the prosecution say was her checking he was definitely going to visit their home because she and her boyfriend intended to confront him over the missing drugs.

The trial continues.