A murder victim was 'scared to death' of an alleged killer who forced him to hand over his benefits money, a court has heard.
Ashley Crowder, 36, has denied murdering Graham Cox after the 37-year-old was found dead at the defendant's flat in Bolton in March 2024. Bolton Crown Court heard that weeks earlier, Mr Cox attended a support centre alleging he had been held hostage by Crowder at his flat for the past two weeks and was attacked by him.
The court heard that Mr Cox managed to escape from the flat through a window before arriving at the UCAN centre in Farnworth, where he regularly attended, to seek help. He claimed Crowder forced him to hand over his benefits money, the Crown told the trial.
Crowder, of Barton Walk, Farnworth, denied murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. He also denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm and four counts of theft, Manchester Evening News reports.
A video interview with police played at court on Thursday showed Mr Cox's former friend John Mahon saying that after the deceased came out of hospital, he was 'petrified of Ashley.' He continued: 'Before he went into hospital, he could handle himself, after he came out, Ashley changed.'
'He [Mr Crowder] kept bragging about chopping his leg. He would belittle him, and used to call him names.' He went on to describe one incident in which he said Mr Cox came out from the toilet at Crowder's flat with his trousers not fully pulled up, before he went to sit on the sofa.
Mr Mahon told the jury: 'He [Mr Crowder] was screaming at Graham, saying "what you doing? You're [sitting] your a**e on my couch." Graham was saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry". He was scared to death.' He told the court Mr Crowder kicked Mr Cox in the chest and 'kicked him to the floor.'
Mr Mahon claimed he witnessed Mr Cox being scared of Crowder 'loads' and that he had seen the defendant 'slap Mr Cox to his head behind closed doors.' He claimed to have previously been friends with Crowder and Mr Cox and accepted they would take drugs together either at Crowder's flat or another friend's home.
It was put to him by barrister Richard Pratt KC, defending, that he had 'turned against' Crowder when he was spoken to by the police about the incident. Mr Mahon said: 'When I spoke to the police, I said he was a horrible, twisted guy. Sick.' In re-examination by junior prosecutor Rachel Shenton, he said: 'It trauma'd [sic] me, him dying.'
The trial continues.
