A man who ran off without paying for his drugs was murdered outside his home in Hemel Hempstead shortly afterwards, a jury heard today/Tuesday.
Adam Watt, 38, was fatally stabbed after being confronted by local drug dealers Joseph Zulu and Nicholas Grant, it was alleged.
They had been driven to near his address at Evans Wharf, Apsley Lock by Jacqueline Brewin, who drove them away after the killing, St Albans crown court was told.
Nicholas Grant, 18, of Sunnyhill Road, Hemel; Joseph Zulu, 23, of no fixed address and Jacqueline Brewin, 47, of Sacombe Road, Hemel, deny murdering Mr Watt, who was attacked shortly after ten past one in the morning of January 8 this year. (2017)
In addition, Joseph Zulu denies conspiracy to supply drugs. The jury was told by prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC that Nicholas Grant has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
Opening the case, Ms Cottage said Adam Watt had a troubled life and had been “unable to rid himself of drink and drug dependency.”
On the night of January 7 he took a taxi to Adeyfield where he walked down an alleyway before returning, shouting: “Run, run, run!”
The prosecutor said: “Mr Watt was in a state of some anxiety with someone chasing him. He was agitated and stressed.
“He told the driver he did not have any money. The driver dropped him at home. He thought he was going to cry.
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She alleged he was chased by Joseph Zulu, who then called his co-defendant Nicholas Grant telling him that either Mr Watt had stolen money or run off with drugs without paying.
The prosecutor said Jacqueline Brewin was “mobilised” and drove the two male defendants in her Vauxhall Meriva, dropping them off around the corner from Mr Watt’s home.
Mr Watt had been told by Jacqueline Brewin that the two were coming and he was confronted by them outside his home. She said the knife that was used to kill him was used with “severe force” to cut into the upper chest, cutting through bone.
She said: “We (the prosecution) say they were all part of a joint enterprise, sharing an intention to kill or seriously injure Adam Watt. Each is equally responsible.”
The prosecutor said Joseph Zulu admits being at the scene, but says he was not armed with a knife. In his defence case statement he said Nicholas Grant was carrying two knives and was responsible. He admitted being a drug dealer but said he was not in business with Grant.
In his defence statement Nicholas Grant admitted he had a knife, but denied being responsible for stabbing Adam Watt. He said Zulu had a knife and was responsible.
“Neither admit responsibility for stabbing Adam Watt. They blame each other,” said Ms Cottage.
She said Jacqueline Brewin admits driving both to the scene and taking them away. She said she did not know they were carrying knives or that there was to be any violence.
Case proceeding
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