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12
Jun
Harrogate killer was reported to police three times by victim, court told
A Harrogate killer was reported to police three times by his victim, a court has heard.
Philip Watson, 34, has admitted murdering Paul Tillet, 56, at Mr Tillet's home on Strawberry Dale in September 2024.
However, his co-accused, Jason Johnson, 27, has denied encouraging Watson to kill the 56-year-old.
Mr Tillet was found bound and gagged on the floor of his flat under a sleeping bag by police on September 29.
The second day of the trial at Leeds Crown Court today (June 12) heard Mr Tillet had reported Watson to police on three occasions prior to the attack.
Jamie Hill KC, for the prosecution, said Mr Tillet had met the 34-year-old once in Harrogate and had seen him at Springboard Day Centre on Oxford Street.
However, Watson was known to go round to the victim’s flat on Stawberry Dale to smoke crack cocaine and drink.
Mr Hill told the court that Mr Tillet had called police on May 31 to report criminal damage.
He told officers that Watson had arrived at his flat at midnight and started “flipping out” and punched a wall. Officers took photographs of the damage.
On June 1, Mr Tillet reported him to police again when he forced entry to his second floor flat at 10.15pm.
Reading his statement to police aloud in court, Mr Hill said:
He tried to stab me, but caused no injury. I let him in because I was fearful.
In a statement to police, Mr Tillet said he tried to call police discreetly but Watson noticed. Once police tried to call back, Watson called him “a grass” and left.
The 56-year-old then called police in the early hours of June 2.
He said that Watson had returned to the property and was ringing the intercom.
In a statement to officers, he said that Watson was often “aggressive” towards him but he did not know why.
Earlier in the trial, Mr Hill told the court that it was the prosecution’s case that Watson was the “main offender” and carried out most of the attack.
However, he said Mr Johnson encouraged Watson to murder Mr Tillet. Mr Johnson denies murder.
In a statement during police interview, Mr Johnson accepted he was present at the attack in Mr Tillet’s flat. However, he said “at no point” did he come into physical contact with Mr Tillet and that he considered the victim a friend.
The trial continues.
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