Crabtree murder trial: Man who claimed he plotted with murder accused to rob drug courier made ‘significant’ mistakes in evidence, jury told

A man who claimed to a jury he plotted with a man, accused of murder, to rob a drugs courier shortly before he was shot made “significant” mistakes in his evidence, a jury has been told.

Christopher Pycroft told a jury he had smoked crack cocaine and drank vodka with Lewis Hutchinson shortly before “drug courier” Mihai Dobre was shot in Crabtree, Paston in the early hours of April 13 last year.

Hutchinson has admitted the manslaughter of Mr Dobre, but denies murder and conspiracy to rob.

Pycroft has admitted conspiracy to rob.

On January 24, Pycroft took to the witness stand at Peterborough Crown Court to give his side of the story - but Nathan Rasiah KC said Pycroft had made a number of mistakes in his evidence.

He said Pycroft said the front drivers’ window of the car was broken, but the evidence showed it was the rear window broken.

Mr Risiah said this was a significant mistake.

In a statement, he said Hutchinson had been about two metres away from the car, but in evidence he said Hutchinson had been only about one metre away.

When asked about this, Pycroft said he did not see it as a big difference.

Pycroft was also asked about the times he gave in evidence, with the Mr Risiah saying in a statement Pycroft had given different times - saying Hutchinson arrived at his home at around 8.30pm to 9pm, rather than 9pm he gave in evidence.

In his statement, Pycroft said Hutchinson had left to get the gun at around 11.30pm, not the 11pm he said in evidence.

Pycroft said he could not say exactly what time it happened but it was around that time.

Mr Risiah also suggested that Hutchinson did not use crack cocaine – but Pycroft said he did.

The court had heard that at the time of the incident, Pycroft’s arm was in a plaster cast.

Mr Risiah asked Pycroft how he had hurt his arm that led to him needing a plaster cast.

Pycroft said he had been attacked with a machete, saying he thought it was a drug dealer known as ‘Randy’ who swung it at his head, and he put his arm out to block it.

However, he said he was drunk at the time, and could not be 100 per cent sure it was Randy.

Mr Risiah said: “You have, in the past, thieved and burgled, but you are not a robber. You would be unlikely, if you were going to rob, to want to rob a drug dealer.”

Pycoft said: “It wouldn’t be top of the list.”

Mr Rasiah told the jury Pycroft had been facing a murder charge in relation to the case, but the prosecution had dropped the charge on Monday, offering no evidence.

In conclusion, Mr Risiah said: “There was no agreement to rob. Lewis Hutchinson was not even there when you say he was.

“He did accompany you to the drug deal. He did, and he accepts, hold a shotgun, brought by you for your own protection.

“And he walked behind the car, and bang, it went off. That is the truth, isn’t it?”

Pycroft said; “No.”

Mr Risiah said: “I suggest you took the weapon with you and disposed of it as you did with other items.”

Pycroft said: “No.”

Hutchinson, 29, of Eastern Avenue, Peterborough, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and not guilty to murder and conspiracy to rob.

Pycroft, 40, of Crabtree, Paston, Peterborough has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob.

The trial continues.