Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
24
Jun
Witness describes Harrogate murder victim as ‘gentle giant’
Warning: this article contains details some people may find upsetting.
The victim of a brutal murder in Harrogate was described as a “gentle giant” during a trial at Leeds Crown Court today (June 24).
Paul Tillett, 56, was found bound and gagged on the floor of his flat on Strawberry Dale by police on September 29.
Philip Watson, 34, admits murdering Mr Tillett but his co-accused, Jason Johnson, 27, denies murder.
On day nine of the trial, the court heard evidence from Katie Bradley, who said she had known Mr Tillett for “15-20 years”.
Miss Bradley described Mr Tillett as a “gentle giant", adding he was "a very nice guy”.
Asked by Jamie Hill KC, prosecuting, how long she had known Watson she replied about five years but added she had "not really spoken to him".
Miss Bradley said:
He [Watson] was not a very nice person.
Miss Bradley said she had “never heard of" Mr Johnson before the offence took place.
Melting skin
Mr Hill asked Miss Bradley if she went to a friend’s house in Knaresborough that day, which she confirmed she did.
She was there with a named man and Laura Gwynn, who witnessed the fatal attack but died the following month.
Miss Bradley said when she arrived at the property, Miss Gwynn was “crying, shaking…she was emotional”.
The named man told Miss Bradley she was “not going to believe” what Miss Gwynn had to say.
The court heard:
Laura told me: ‘Watto [Philip Watson] killed Paul Tillett last night.’
She said she was there at the murder.
According to Miss Bradley, Miss Gwynn told her "what Watson had done to him", including burning Mr Tillett – "his skin melting”.
Miss Gwynn said Mr Tillett had also been stabbed in the back and the neck, a “W” had been carved into his forehead and part of his ear had been cut off, Miss Bradley added.
Dr Louise Mulcahy, a Home Office pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr Tillett's body on September 30, last week told the court he had been subjected to a sustained assault with a combination of multiple blows with fists, kicks and stamps concentrated to the face and head.
The victim suffered internal bruising, bleeding on the brain and 11 fractured ribs, as well as lacerations to his nose and ears. Hair on his forehead had been “singed" due to an aerosol being used as a flamethrower.
There was also evidence of restraint and “10 uses of a sharp weapon”, Dr Mulcahy said.
The court heard Miss Gwynn did not mention anyone else having been there during the attack at the time.
Miss Bradley said:
I didn't believe it at first. I thought: ‘if he is dead in a flat in Harrogate, we need to ring the police’. But she [Miss Gwynn] wouldn’t.
She said she did not want to do anything about it until she had spoken to Tasha [Natasha Simpson].
Cross examination
Simon Kealey KC, defending, cited a statement Miss Bradley gave to the police last November.
In the statement, Miss Bradley described Watson as a “d***, a bully and a neanderthal”.
Miss Bradley claimed she had also been threatened by Watson in the past.
She said:
I was at [ex-partner’s] house, and he [Watson] wanted me to leave. I was not going to leave.
But then he threatened to taser me if I didn’t leave, so I left.
Miss Gwynn also told Miss Bradley that Watson had threatened her during the attack, telling Miss Gwynn she was "next”.
Miss Bradley said she urged Miss Gwynn to call the police, but Miss Gwynn did not and left the Knaresborough flat.
Mr Kealey asked Miss Bradley if it was “left to her [Miss Gwynn]” to call the police.
“It was left to her”, she replied.
Brief overview
Earlier in the trial, Jamie Hill KC, prosecuting, said that Mr Tillett had been subjected to a “prolonged and persistent” attack which had “elements of torture”.
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 Tillett.
In a statement during police interview, Mr Johnson accepted he was present at the attack in Mr Tillett’s flat. However, he said “at no point” did he come into physical contact with Mr Tillett and that he considered the victim a friend.
The trial continues.
0