Murder trial
Ex-boyfriend threatened to kill Jackie, court told

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A CONVICTED ex-boyfriend of Dines Green murder victim Jackie Harrison made threats to kill her from inside prison, a jury was told.

Defence counsel Richard Benson QC revealed Samuel ‘Sammy’ Wilson’s threats which were made after he was jailed for four years in January 2009 for pouring boiling water over Miss Harrison.

The jury heard from Carol Martin, a victim liaison officer for the Probation Service who confirmed Miss Harrison was petrified ‘Sammy’ would seek revenge after she began a relationship with William Cummins.

Mrs Martin’s evidence came on day five of the trial and also saw her detail the troubled on-off relationship between Miss Harrison and Cummins, who is charged with her murder.

She told the jury she began working with Miss Harrison when Mr Wilson was returned to jail following an unspecified breach of his release conditions in September 2010.

Despite having no contact with Mr Wilson, Mrs Martin told the court Miss Harrison was afraid of ‘repercussions’ for both her and Cummins.

Under cross-examination from Mr Benson, Mrs Martin agreed that Miss Harrison was ‘both in love and frightened’ of Mr Wilson.

Philip Jones, aka ‘Phil the Flute’ told prosecuting counsel Richard Atkins QC Miss Harrison had told her Cummins had hit her.

“I saw her with black eyes and bruises but that was nothing unusual for Jackie,” he told the court.

Under questioning from Mr Benson, Mr Jones said Miss Harrison was frightened of a number of men, including Lenny Scarrott.

The jury heard how Miss Harrison made a complaint Mr Scarrott had assaulted her and how Lee Telford then complained Scarrott had, in fact, raped her.

Mr Jones, a busker in Worcester city centre, said Scarrott was outraged by the claims and refused to speak about Miss Harrison. He claimed Mr Scarrott once said: “I hate the f****** b*tch. She needs to get what’s coming.”

Two employees of the Co-Op opposite Miss Harrison’s flat in Dines Green also gave evidence on day five of the trial.

Kelly Croke said she got to know Miss Harrison well during the past two years and on one occasion when asked about her black eye, split lip and bruises, Mrs Croke said Miss Harrison told her they were caused by ‘Billy (William Cummins) or Lenny.’

When asked by Mr Atkins about Cummins, Mrs Croke said he could be very nice but also aggressive and abusive.

She detailed one occasion when Cummins had ‘serenaded’ her while buying a can of Special Brew but quickly became aggressive when a customer accidentally brushed past him when he was leaving the store.

Supervisor Tracy Hawkins told the court she never saw Cummins in the store sober but also said Miss Harrison could be a ‘vile, horrible person’ when she was drunk.

Cummins denies murdering Jackie Harrison.

The trial continues.

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