Mark 'The Iceman' Fellows, a convicted contract killer on trial with two other inmates for allegedly murdering a child killer behind bars, told police 'I'm just going to sit here in silence', jurors have heard.
Defendants Accused of Murdering Kyle Bevan
Fellows, 45; David Taylor, 64; and Lee Newell, 57, are accused of murdering Kyle Bevan at HMP Wakefield last year. Bevan, 33, was found dead in a cell at the high-security West Yorkshire prison on November 5. He had murdered his stepchild and was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 28 years. Jurors heard he was a 'vulnerable prisoner' at the jail, where there had been 'tensions' between vulnerable and main prisoners.
The Leeds Crown Court trial has heard that Fellows is a 'contract killer' who murdered two gangland kingpins, Paul Massey and John Kinsella. Taylor allegedly referred to Fellows as the 'Wakefield Dexter'. The court heard Fellows had the nickname 'The Iceman'.
Prosecution Alleges Team Effort
Prosecutors allege the three defendants worked as a 'team' and moved to Bevan's cell, where he was stabbed with an improvised weapon or weapons. Jason Pitter KC, prosecuting, claimed the alleged murder may have been committed following a 'desire to be transferred'.
Mr Pitter said that when Taylor was being transferred out of the prison, a nurse allegedly heard him shout, in the vicinity of Newell: 'Nice working with you and The Iceman.'
Mr Pitter told jurors: 'Iceman being a nickname for Fellows. What was the work that they had done together with The Iceman? We say that was the killing of Bevan and them operating together to do so.'
Prison Officer Testimony
On the third day of the trial on Friday, Mr Pitter read from witness statements. Prison officer Richard Green said that on the night of November 5, during regular checks, he spoke with Fellows in his cell. Fellows 'thanked him for being quiet'. 'I found it peculiar that he spoke to me as he normally speaks to me in the day,' Mr Green said.
Mr Green said Fellows was a category A prisoner, checked hourly. At midnight, he checked on Fellows, who was lying in bed 'looking at his TV or looking at the ceiling'. Mr Green checked on Bevan and saw him lying on his front. Bevan was category B and checks were on roll call. Taylor and Newell were checked three or five times a night.
Mr Green said Newell was on the close supervision unit because he was 'unsafe to himself and others'. 'I know he does not like sex offenders or offenders against children, neither does Fellows,' he said. 'I would say they are sociable and friendly together.'
A statement from another prison officer said that during 'lock-up', Bevan appeared to be asleep with 'no sign of a disturbance'. Another officer working the morning Bevan's body was found said a prisoner told her: 'I heard Bevan might be dead.'
Nurse Testimony
Prison nurse Hannah McCrump said she responded to the 'code blue alarm' after Bevan's body was found. He was 'stiff, cold and a blue-greyish colour'. She knew the three defendants had been separated from others after the incident, and Taylor was moved to a different prison.
Ms McCrump made checks on Taylor before his transfer. 'He was shouting to other people in the unit,' she said. Asked by Mr Pitter who he was shouting to, she said: 'Lee Newell and Mark Fellows.' Asked what he said, she continued: 'Nice working with you and The Iceman.' She said he also referred to one of them as the 'Wakefield Dexter'. 'He said 'not guilty all the way',' she added. 'He was shouting. He seemed cocky.'
Police Evidence
PC Nadeem Kazi gave evidence regarding events on November 6 at Elland Road police station. Taylor made reference to something along the lines of 'my legal team will make minced meat of this b******t', he said. 'I can't remember anything else, except he said something along the lines of he can make a shiv out of anything.'
Referring to his statement, PC Kazi said Taylor claimed he had watched CCTV of the incident showing him 'walking into a cell' and leaving after five minutes with 'nothing in his hands'. Taylor then said of the body found: 'It could have been anyone.'
Defendants' Silence
Jurors heard agreed facts that Fellows, Newell, and Taylor were separately arrested on suspicion of murder. Fellows declined legal advice and gave no reason. Taylor declined a solicitor. Newell made no comment during his police interview.
The court heard Fellows told officers at the beginning of the interview: 'I'm just going to sit here in silence like you [inaudible].' He made no further comment and sat in silence. Taylor made no comment in his police interview.
Fellows (born 15/9/80) of no fixed address; Taylor (born 26/4/62) of no fixed address; and Newell (born 5/10/68) of no fixed address all deny murder. The trial continues.
