Alibi claim on day of father Richard Deakin's murder
The man accused of murdering businessman Richard Deakin told jurors his family was visiting on the day the father-of-two was shot dead and he was not in the area.
David Harrison said that he was not anywhere near Mr Deakin's home in Meadway Street, Burntwood, as the defence case started on day 17 of the murder trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Harrison, of Bilston, spoke of the day Mr Deakin, a Walsall skip hire boss, died in his own bed at 8.30am.
He said his wife Julie's sister, her sister's husband and mother, were visiting on July 5, 2010, after arriving the night before.
"I got up about 8am and let the dogs out," he said.
"I walked round to the shop and stopped at the yard (a skip hire yard) first.
"I called in because they were busy." He said he left his two mobile phones in the office and on leaving asked a worker to pass one.
"I got home before 9am. I next left about 11am
Harrison, aged 63, said he "never recovered" the two phones – one personal and one for work.
The prosecution previously suggested he deliberately left his phone so as not to be detected in Chasetown.
He admitted going to Chasetown on three separate mornings in weeks before the murder, but could not remember specifically what he was doing, suggesting he may have been driven towards a Stafford boatyard.
Yesterday, the jury heard of Harrison's various criminal activities which he undertook for Alan Cash.
These included growing cannabis, fetching and carrying money and drugs and stealing skips.
Harrison denied allegations that Mr Cash made previously in the trial, including digging a grave at Dudley Zoo to put a body in.
He said £25,640 found at his wife's home in Folkestone came from a car sale.
The prosecution says this was money paid for his role in the murder. Darryl Dickens, 34, of Powell Place, Bilston, is accused of driving the getaway car. Both deny murder.
The trial continues.
