Latest news with #ColeenCampbell
The Sun
20 hours ago
- The Sun
How gangster's moll blew apart her life of luxury when absurd lie exposed her as mastermind behind ex's grim murder
GLAM Coleen Campbell painted the perfect picture of a distraught widow after her gangster ex-husband was brutally tortured and killed. But a harrowing court case heard how she helped orchestrate the brutal attack that led to the drug baron's death. 11 11 11 Dad-of-two Thomas Campbell, 38, was ambushed by three men on his doorstep on July 2, 2022. His body was later discovered naked and bound with duct tape in his hallway. Before his death, Thomas had been dating John Belfield 's ex Demi-Lee Driver and he was "hostile" about the relationship. The 31-year-old worked with Thomas' ex-wife Coleen to arrange the horrendous attack. The pair masterminded the plot to murder the gangster at his home in Mossley, Greater Manchester, with Campbell passing Belfield information on her ex's movements. She even gave him information which she obtained via two children she shared with Thomas, a court heard. Belfield was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to rob following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. He has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 37 years. Campbell, 38, was previously jailed for 13 years after she shared intelligence of Thomas' whereabouts to Belfield. It was not the first time she'd displayed violent tenancies. Days before her the father of her children was killed, Campbell teamed up with three other yobs to attack another victim in the street in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Moment mum beats woman in love triangle attack just days before she killed ex Killer Campbell was seen striking the victim multiple times with a hammer - causing the defenceless woman to fall to the ground. And just hours before the brutal attack on her ex, the mum-of-four was captured on CCTV in her pink pyjamas chatting to Belfield for 25 minutes in her garden. She and Belfield had met up and also exchanged 35 phone calls and 68 messages as she conspired to have her ex-husband robbed. During this time, Campbell divulged key information about Thomas - including details of his van's registration plate and his house number. Campbell helped Belfield plot the brutal ambush because she was furious at her ex for cheating on her before they split. This is despite being told that Thomas would be robbed and "violence would be necessary". 11 'A PSYCHIC TOLD ME' The glam ex-wife slipped up and revealed her involvement in his death when she told Thomas' mum about his injuries. She was chillingly knowledgeable about the exact nature of what he had suffered. Campbell then scrambled to cover up her slip with a flimsy excuse by claiming Thomas had described the attack to a clairvoyant from beyond the grave. She married Thomas in 2011, and the pair enjoyed a very lavish lifestyle funded by the criminal underworld. Their involvement in Manchester's coke trade was exposed when cops began investigating them in 2014. Police were suspicious about their flashy lifestyle as their only legal source of income were benefits and Ms Campbell's part-time job at Matalan. A FLASHY LIFE FUNDED BY DIRTY MONEY Cops seized a Mercedes C63 - which cost £100,935 to £106,935 - and a BMW X5 - of which the prices start from £99,060.00. The couple's home was also found to have a double-storey extension funded by their shady activities. The Campbells pleaded guilty to money laundering at Manchester Crown Court in 2019. Fast forward to 2022, when Thomas' body was found naked and bound at his home. As he was a known drug baron, cops didn't suspect his ex wife - who put on a convincing show. She posted a slew of social media posts about her grief following the loss of her childrens' dad. 11 11 A 'GRIEVING WIDOW' An emotional tribute on Facebook read: "13 years and two beautiful children. Forever grateful. "I would do anything to hear your giddy laugh just one more time." But all along, she had been passing intel to Belfield in the plot that led to Thomas suffering 61 separate injuries at his £350,000 townhouse. Footage released by police showed a tracking device being placed on Thomas' car as he dropped his daughter off at school. Belfield, Reece Steven, 29, and Stephen Cleworth, 38, used this to conduct reconnaissance missions to the dad's home. The court heard Belfield was "obsessed" with his ex Demi-Lee, who was now dating Thomas, and had messaged her before the killing, warning: "You're mine". He also text his ex, saying: "You will never have a boyfriend you will have to move country give it a week and you will see why and happens when you take the p***." In the lead-up to the brutal murder, Belfield also sent Thomas a message, saying: "I'm going to s**g her [Campbell] for the point of it as well as saying you like her you soft boy." The prosecutor said a few days after the messages, Thomas died in the "most terrible way". On July 3, 2022, three men "pounced" on the dad as he arrived home late from a night out. Blood splattered the walls of his smart new-build home as he was bound and brutalised while being tortured for two hours. 11 11 THOMAS WAS TORTURED FOR TWO HOURS A post mortem found injuries to his head and neck suggested a "sustained blunt sharp force physical assault". The dad also had burns on his body that were caused by a "hot liquid such as hot water". He had been dragged around the house as the attackers took as much money or drugs as they could get their hands on. Thomas was then left to die in the hallway before being discovered the following day by a neighbour. Belfield fled to South Africa following the gruesome killing and sent a series of chilling messages. In one exchange with "right-hand man" Reece Steven, he callously joked the victim must have "bled everywhere". Steven, who has been jailed for Thomas' murder, replied: "Tommy crumble. Dripping in tom juice everywhere." Belfield, who denied being one of the three attackers who ambushed Thomas at his home, was found guilty of torturing his love rival to death after he plotted the grisly murder with the victim's ex. Campbell was jailed last year for 13 years after being convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder. Following the split with Thomas, she had chillingly text her friend: "Karma is best served cold - and then tables turn real fast. I be the coldest MF you ever met." Steven, 29, was caged for at least 37 years for murder while Stephen Cleworth, 38, was handed a minimum term of 12 years for manslaughter. Wendy Logan, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: 'John Belfield was responsible for leading a meticulously planned attack to kill Thomas Campbell.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Killer who tortured love rival to death is jailed after he plotted gruesome murder with victim's glam ex-wife
A KILLER who tortured a love rival to death after plotting the murder with the victim's glam ex-wife has been jailed. Thomas Campbell was discovered naked and bound with duct tape in his hallway after he was ambushed on his doorstep. 7 7 7 The 38-year-old was then dragged inside and tortured to death in a two-hour horror ordeal. Before his death, Thomas had been dating John Belfield's ex Demi-Lee Driver and he was "hostile" about the relationship. The 31-year-old masterminded the plot to murder Thomas at his home in Mossley, Greater Manchester, using intel passed to him by the victim's ex-wife, Coleen Campbell. He has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 37 years after being convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob. Sentencing, Mr Justice Graham said: "Thomas Campbell was no saint. Like you, he was involved in the sale and distribution of drugs. He was also a human being. 'The manner of his death was horrific. His family and friends have had to listen to the description of his injuries. 'His father has described his family's prolific grief - it's plain he was greatly loved.' Campbell, 38, was previously jailed for 13 years after she shared intelligence of Thomas' whereabouts to Belfield. The mum-of-four was captured on CCTV in her pink pyjamas chatting to Belfield for 25 minutes in her garden just hours before the savage attack. She and Belfield had met up and also exchanged 35 phonecalls and 68 messages as she conspired to have her ex-husband robbed. During this time, Campbell divulged key information about Thomas - including details of his van's registration plate and his house number. Further footage released by police showed a tracking device being placed on Thomas' car as he dropped his daughter off at school. 7 Belfield, Reece Steven, 29, and Stephen Cleworth, 38, used this to conduct reconnaissance missions to the dad's home. The court heard Belfield was "obsessed" with his ex Demi-Lee, who was now dating Thomas, and had messaged her before the killing, warning: "You're mine". He also text his ex, saying: "You will never have a boyfriend you will have to move country give it a week and you will see why and happens when you take the p***." In the lead-up to the brutal murder, Belfield also sent Thomas a message, saying: "I'm going to s**g her [Campbell] for the point of it as well as saying you like her you soft boy." The prosecutor said a few days after the messages, Thomas died in the "most terrible way". On July 3, 2022, three men "pounced" on the dad as he arrived home late from a night out. Blood splattered the walls of his smart new-build home as he was bound and brutalised while being tortured for two hours. A post mortem found injuries to his head and neck suggested a "sustained blunt sharp force physical assault". The dad also had burns on his body that were caused by a "hot liquid such as hot water". He had been dragged around the house as the attackers took as much money or drugs as they could get their hands on. Thomas was then left to die in the hallway before being discovered the following day by a neighbour. Belfield fled to South Africa following the gruesome killing and sent a series of chilling messages. In one exchange with "right-hand man" Reece Steven, he callously joked the victim must have "bled everywhere". Steven, who has been jailed for Thomas' murder, replied: "Tommy crumble. Dripping in tom juice everywhere." Campbell was jailed last year for 13 years after being convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder. Steven, 29, was caged for at least 37 years for murder while Stephen Cleworth, 38, was handed a minimum term of 12 years for manslaughter. Wendy Logan, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: 'John Belfield was responsible for leading a meticulously planned attack to kill Thomas Campbell. "Evidence presented by the prosecution made it clear that Belfield had orchestrated this attack and left no stone unturned to ensure it would be successful including organising surveillance of Campbell's every move and even conducting dress rehearsals for their plans. "Belfield then took extreme steps to evade justice by removing his fingerprints and DNA from the scene of the crime and fleeing on a plane to Suriname in South America – a country where he had no previous connections. "Despite the 4,500-mile distance, Belfield remained in constant contact with his co-conspirators during their trial, even offering them advise over text message about their trial strategy. 7 7 7
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
The gangster's moll who went on to kill: She orchestrated the savage murder of her cocaine kingpin ex for 'cheating on her'... before a clairvoyant ended her vicious reign of terror
Caught on camera battering a woman with a hammer during a vicious ambush, Coleen Campbell's propensity for violence is obvious. Yet just three days later she would be involved in an even more horrific act - the torture and killing of her drug baron ex-husband. Footage of Campbell and two other female accomplices raining down blows during the street brawl was played to a court in Manchester in April this year. But rather than appearing in the dock to face charges over the 2022, Campbell attended via a video link from jail - where she is currently serving a 13-year sentence for helping to orchestrate her ex's murder on July 2, 2022. Father-of-two Thomas Campbell, 38, was ambushed by three men as he opened his front door on July 2, 2022 before being subjected to prolonged torture before his death. Coleen - furious at him for cheating before their split - had shared his whereabouts with drug dealer John Belfield, despite being warned that he would be robbed and 'violence would be necessary'. Alongside his two accomplices, Belfield rushed Campbell before binding him with extra-strength duct tape and torturing to death. He was on Thursday convicted of murder after a jury heard how he sought revenge on Thomas for starting a relationship, After playing the 'perfect' grieving widow after the killing, Coleen eventually exposed her involvement by describing the exact nature of Thomas' injuries to his mother - details she claimed he had relayed from the grave after being summoned by a clairvoyant. But if this is how her sordid criminal career came to an end, how did it begin? While it's unclear exactly when she first became involved in Manchester's underworld, Coleen was already heavily involved when she married Thomas in 2011. Police began investigating the couple in 2014 and uncovered their role in the area's cocaine trade. The probe also honed in on their lavish lifestyle, with the pair found to have spent more than £100,000 on luxury cars and holidays, despite their only legitimate income being benefits and Coleen's part-time job at Matalan. Police later seized a Mercedes C63 and a BMW X5 from their house, which had been fitted by a double-storey extension funded by dirty money. The pair both pleaded guilty to money laundering and at Manchester Crown Court in 2019, with Thomas jailed for two years and Coleen handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. As is usual for such cases, police sought to claw back the couple's wealth by beginning an investigation under the proceeds of crime act. But three years later, their attention would be diverted to a far more pressing matter - Thomas' disappearance and murder. Given his status as a major drug dealer, Thomas had many enemies, meaning suspicion did not at first focus on Coleen, who had by then broken up with him after accusations of cheating. The Facebook messages Coleen posted after Thomas' murder in an effort to appear innocent Indeed, Facebook posts at the time show she put on a show of grieving by posting a series of 'tributes' featuring broken heart emojis and warm words for the father of her two children. One read: '13 years and 2 beautiful children. Forever grateful. I would do anything to hear your giddy laugh or your none [sic] stop moaning just one more time.' Coleen also helped to photograph and arrange the ceremonial releasing of balloons in his memory. But she went on to give away her role in Thomas' killing in a bizarre way - by visiting a psychic. At this meeting - four days after his death - Coleen claimed his spirit had been summoned and shared intimate details about his murder and the injuries he had sustained. Coleen relayed them all to the victim's suspicious mother, who alerted police. At the time of the séance, little information had previously been made public by police about the fatal assault - but Coleen fell under suspicion as only the killers could have known the details about Thomas' fatal wounds. Inquiries revealed she had been tipping off murderer John Belfield about her ex-husband's movements in the run up to the attack, with a phone conversation she had with one of them caught on her home CCTV. Thomas would go on to die in the most horrific manner possible, suffering 61 separate injuries during a drawn-out, sadistic assault at his £350,000 townhouse in Mossley that also saw him robbed of drugs, cash and valuables. He was stabbed, punched and stamped on before boiling water was poured on his buttocks. Neighbours found his body in the hallway naked except for his socks. Coleen was found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 after a five-week trial. Texts the killer exchanged with friends after her split from Thomas in 2021 following an affair threw light on her motivation. Initially she put on a show of defiance, telling one: 'Best thing this man did was sh*g my baggy mate 12 months ago. Roll on new beginnings.' But in another text she hinted at plans for revenge, writing: 'Never let the actions of a man that cannot be loyal to his own family and a woman with no morals and has to sleep with other women's husbands, change and provoke you. Karma is best served cold - and then tables turn real fast. I be the coldest MF you ever met.' Reece Steven, 29, was convicted of murder and was jailed for life with a minimum of 37 years while Stephen Cleworth, 38, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 12 years. Both were also found guilty of conspiracy to rob. Belfield was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to rob. During April's hearing relating to the earlier - unrelated -street assault, Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Coleen attacked Niamh Wasik alongside two other women, Hannah Derbyshire, 27, and Chloe Bamford, 30, and a 38-year-old man, Simon Bowden. The court heard how one of the attackers had been in a relationship with a man called James Heaney at the same time as Ms Wasik, prompting Campbell to take part in what appears to be a reckless attempt to scare her off. Prosecutor Danielle Gilmour told how Campbell was driving the three other defendants in a VW Tiguan before they ambushed Ms Wasik at the junction of Rutland Street and Granville Street in Ashton-under-Lyne. Derbyshire leapt out the car and began 'raining down blows and kicks' on the victim,' the court heard, while Bowden - armed with a 'two foot long drill bit' - pulled a balaclava down over his face. Campbell, wearing all black and armed with a hammer, hit the victim 'multiple times' before dragging the woman to the ground where she was kicked by Campbell and her two female accomplices. The assault lasted about 90 seconds before Campbell and the three other attackers fled the scene in the Tiguan, with a rock being hurled at the vehicle's windshield as it sped away. Campbell allegedly stole the victim's handbag, which was found in her home when police raided it, the Manchester Evening News reported from court. She and her three accomplices all 'lied or made no comment' when questioned by police, a judge said. Bamford claimed she had been acting in self-defence, while Bowden said he had been in Manchester city centre at the time. It is not known whether the victim suffered any injuries, as she refused to co-operate with police. All four defendants pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Campbell also admitted theft. Defending Campbell, who is being held in HMP Drake Hall, Bob Elias said she appeared an 'amiable, bright and pleasant woman'. Sentencing, Recorder Michael Blakey said: 'On June 29, 2022, the four of you went in a car, clearly a planned adventure, to a place, Granville Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, where the victim in this case was assaulted. 'The motive behind this appears to be the relationship that there was between you, Hannah Derbyshire, and somebody called James Heaney. 'The victim was involved in a relationship with him also. The four of you went in the car, three of you armed, Ms Campbell with a hammer, you Hannah Derbyshire didn't arm yourself, and you Ms Bamford with a rolling pin. Mr Bowden you had a two foot long drill bit in your possession. 'It must have been a very frightening and scary situation which arose, and no doubt put people who were watching what was going on in fear themselves.' He told Campbell: 'You armed yourself with a hammer, you in fact used the hammer on the victim in this case. I have read information which suggests you while you have been in custody have developed insight, that you have attended courses and are doing all you possibly can to reform yourself. That is to be commended.' Campbell and Bowden, both of no fixed address, were sentenced to 18 months in prison each. Derbyshire, of Clayton, and Bamford, of Openshaw, were both handed suspended prison sentences.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Man who organised torture and killing of 'love rival' after plotting with victim's ex-wife to arrange ambush at his luxury home is found guilty of murder
A drug dealer was today found guilty of brutally torturing and murdering a love rival in his own home - acting on information provided by the dead man's ex-wife. John Belfield, 31, 'masterminded' the savage killing of Thomas Campbell, whose bloodied and near-naked body was found in his hallway bound in extra-strength duct tape. Jurors heard how Belfield became 'obsessed and furious' after Campbell began a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Demi-Lee Driver, who the killer called a 'money grabbing little dog' in a series of threatening messages. He led a gang of three men who were caught on CCTV bursting into Mr Campbell's home in Mossley, Greater Manchester, to rob and torture him. They tied him up, before mutilating his face and pouring boiling liquid over his genitals. After leaving the 38-year-old father of two to die in unimaginable agony, Belfield fled to the former Dutch colony of Suriname in South America. Belfield's right-hand man, Reece Steven, stood trial in his absence and was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to rob, while Stephen Cleworth, 38, was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. Mr Campbell's vengeful ex-wife, Coleen Campbell, was found guilty of the same charges as Cleworth after passing Belfield crucial details about her former husband's movements before his killing, including information passed on by their children. Belfield and Steven shared a series of crowing messages about Mr Campbell's injuries following the murder on July 2, 2022. Steven wrote: 'Tommy crumble. Dripping in tom juice everywhere', to which Belfield replied: 'Must have bled everywhere.' In subsequent texts, Steven referred to 'a little bit of Tommy ketchup' while Belfield wrote: 'All the lights on but no one at home. Actually, the lights have been smashed out of him.' Manchester Crown Court also heard messages Belfield sent to his ex, Ms Driver, after she began a relationship with Mr Campbell. In one he wrote: 'You and that helmet will get domed. Shut your mouth you dog.' In a separate exchange, Belfield wrote to Mr Campbell about Ms Driver, saying: 'I'm going to shag her for the point of it as well as saying you like her you soft boy.' The victim's body was discovered by shocked neighbours the morning after his death when they noticed his front door had been left open and saw blood in the hallway. Duct tape had been wound 'multiple times' around his wrists from a roll bought from a B&Q store in nearby Oldham. Prosecutors said Belfield wanted to steal 'items of value' from Mr Campbell's home and was also motivated by personal 'hostility' towards him. A 2023 trial heard how his estranged wife Coleen Campbell had shared her ex's whereabouts despite being warned that he would be robbed and 'violence would be necessary' After playing the 'perfect' grieving widow in a series of gushing Facebook messages, she eventually exposed her involvement by describing the exact nature of Mr Campbell's injuries to his mother - details she claimed he had relayed from the grave after being summoned by a clairvoyant. She immediately became suspicious and alerted police. During his own trial, Belfield admitted to earning around £2,000-a-week dealing cannabis and cocaine, but denied murdering Mr Campbell. Questioned by his barrister Richard Wright KC, Belfield said he had known him for about ten years, saying he was 'higher up than me' in the drugs trade. 'I have never had any trouble with Tom Campbell in my life,' he insisted. Belfield insisted that his contact with Ms Campbell over Instagram in the run-up to the murder had nothing to do with a plan to rob her ex-husband or being 'jealous' about his relationship with Ms Driver. However, jurors heard how he 'very carefully planned' Mr Campbell's killing by placing a tracker device on his car and carrying out reconnaissance on his home. Belfield attacked Mr Campbell with Steven and a third man, who has not been identified. Co-conspirator Stephen Cleworth was not present during the murder, but planted the tracker and acted as a driver. Horrific details about the victim's injuries were shared with jurors by forensic pathologist Dr Philip Lumb. He said he had suffered injuries consistent with 'restraint', 'asyphixia' and a 'sustained blunt sharp force physical assault'. Dr Lumb also noted evidence of burning to Mr Campbell's thigh and buttocks, which he said had been caused by a 'hot liquid such as hot water'. The victim had also suffered a gaping stab wound to his right upper arm, which would have bled extensively. Coleen also helped arrange a balloon release in memory of her drug dealer ex - who posed as a personal trainer Belfield was described as being of no fixed address. He will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court at a later date.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Man accused of organising murder of 'love rival' bragged he was going to have sex with victim's ex-wife before he was tortured to death, court told
A criminal accused of 'masterminding' the torture and murder of a 'love rival' said he was planning on having sex with the man's ex-wife 'for the point of it', a court heard today. John Belfield, 31, is accused of being the 'driving force' behind the brutal killing of Thomas Campbell, whose bloodied and near-naked body was found in the hallway of his home bound in extra-strength duct tape. The dead man's ex-wife Coleen was later convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob for providing crucial details about his movements before the gang pounced. Belfield, who fled to South America after the murder in July 2022, today denied that he had become 'obsessed and furious' because his ex-partner, Demi-Leigh Driver, had started a relationship with Campbell. But he admitted responding to the 38-year-old's violent death by commenting it was his 'time to go'. Describing the message as 'bravado', he claimed the dead man had been a 'big time cocaine dealer', adding: 'If you sell drugs, these kind of things can happen.' Cross-examined in his murder trial today, Belfield denied being jealous about the relationship between Campbell and Ms Driver and said he had wanted to have sex with Coleen Campbell. He was asked at Manchester Crown Court about a message he wrote to Campbell about his ex-wife, saying: 'I'm going to shag her for the point of it as well as saying you like her you soft boy.' Belfield told the court that he had immediately deleted the message because it did not want Campbell to read it. 'He was bigger and tougher than me and a big time cocaine dealer,' he said. 'He had access to guns. I did not want to make an enemy of him. 'I was a bit upset and thought it was a bad idea and I deleted it, as you can see.' Belfield, who denies being part of a three-strong murder gang, was asked by prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer KC about a message he sent Ms Driver which read: 'You and him will get domed and there is not a thing you or him will do.' Belfield denied that 'domed' meant inflicting a serious head injury and said it meant 'taking the p*** out of someone'. He said that he was 'definitely not' obsessed with Ms Driver and denied he was not able to move on from their relationship. 'I was in multiple relationships at that time,' he said. Coleen Campbell was among those previously convicted in connection with Thomas Campbell's death Belfield admitted he had sent Campbell a message saying: 'Have you shagged her or what?' Mr de la Poer asked: 'Why are you sending a dangerous man this message?' Belfield replied: 'I was just showing him. I knew Tom quite well. 'I wanted him to see what Demi was acting like. She was continuing to want to sleep with me.' The court heard that Ms Driver told Belfield that he was 'upset because you never wanted me and someone else does'. She added: 'You are upset because someone else appreciates me. 'Do anything to me and you will be sorry.' Mr de la Poer pointed out that Campbell had died 'in the most terrible way' a few days after the messages and suggested to Belfield that he had murdered him. Belfield replied: 'Definitely not. 'I didn't murder Thomas Campbell that day, I was at home with my daughter and my sisters. 'I was not there when Thomas Campbell was murdered. It is unbelievable. It is mad.' The court has heard that after the murder, Belfield fled to the former Dutch colony of Suriname, where his cousin was also on the run from the police. He denied that he had studied the reports of a 2023 trial over the murder while in South America in order to 'find gaps in the evidence'. Jurors have been told that in addition to Ms Campbell, two others were convicted over their roles in the killing in Mossley, Greater Manchester. Reece Steven, described as Belfield's 'right hand man', was convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob. Stephen Cleworth was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob for his role in surveillance in the run-up to the killing. 'I just wanted to find out why newspaper reports printed that I had murdered someone,' he said. But Belfield admitted that he had studied the evidence with a view to 'constructing an alibi' for Reece Steven. Reece Steven (left), 29, was convicted of murder and was jailed for life with a minimum of 37 years whilst Stephen Cleworth (right), 38, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 12 years Mr de la Poer said he had 'done his best' to help Steven 'get away with murder'. Belfield said: 'I was trying to help him, yes.' He also admitted he had exchanged messages with Reece Steven from Suriname making 'jokes' about Campbell 'dripping with tomato juice' - a reference to him bleeding during the attack. He was asked if he found the messages funny. Belfield said: 'They are just bravado. 'At that time I was in a bad way. I was not in a right frame of mind at that time in my life.' He admitted that he had told Steven that it was Campbell's 'time to go.' 'It was the life that Tom chose and it was the life that I chose and things like that happen,' he said. 'If you sell drugs, these kind of things can happen.' But he added: 'I would not go and commit a crime as horrific. 'It was just like joking with bravado with one of my friends.' Belfield has admitted he took part in alleged 'recces' before the killing and helped disguise the van used in the ambush afterwards. But he denies being present when Mr Campbell was killed, or being involved in placing a tracking device on his VW van or buying items used in his torture. Belfield, of no fixed address, denies murder and conspiracy to rob. The trial continues.
