Convicted child killer murder trial jury retires

Tredegar man Ieuan Harley, 23, and David Osborne, 51, are accused of killing David Gaut after discovering he had been jailed for the murder of a toddler in 1985.

Both men allegedly lured Mr Gaut to neighbour Osborne's flat in New Tredegar and stabbed him over 150 times while he was alive and 26 times after his death.

Darran Evesham, 47, who is accused of perverting the course of justice, is accused of helping them try and dispose of evidence including bloodied clothing and helping carry Mr Gaut's body back to his own flat.

This week, Newport Crown Court heard Harley, of Punch House Flats, Morgan Street, Tredegar, would not appear in the witness box to give evidence in his defence.

He and Osborne, from Long Row, Elliots Town, New Tredegar, deny murder.

Evesham, of Powell’s Terrace, New Tredegar, has been acquitted by the jury of murder after the judge, Mr Justice Clive Lewis, told them that there was a lack of evidence.

He and Harley are accused of perverting the course of justice, a charge which Osborne has admitted.

Evesham’s barrister, Ali Bajwa QC, also told the jury his client would not be giving evidence.

Police this week released CCTV footage, shown to the jury, of the final movements of Mr Gaut, 54, before he was allegedly murdered by his next-door neighbour Osborne and his friend Harley.

Prosecutor Ben Douglas-Jones, QC, has told the jury that he was stabbed more than 150 times.

On Monday, Gwent Police released the images of Mr Gaut buying tickets at Caerphilly railway station just hours before he died.

Mr Douglas-Jones claims Osborne and Harley killed him after learning he had served 32 years in prison for murdering 15-month-old baby boy Chi Ming Shek in 1985.

It is alleged Mr Gaut’s body was dragged back to his own flat and attempts were made to clean up the scene, dispose of bloodied clothing and set fire to a car to destroy evidence.

The jury are due to resume their deliberations on Monday. Proceeding.