Gay lover denies part in Clayton West murder of Christopher Hartley

Mar 12 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BISEXUAL murder suspect David Large dismissed crucial evidence from a girlfriend as “a complete fantasy”.

And a murder trial heard yesterday that he stood by his insistence he had nothing to do with the contract killing of his former gay lover.

Car dealer Christopher Hartley, 45, was blasted in the head and chest with a shotgun on a quiet country road at Clayton West last September.

And the prosecution has alleged that his ex-lover Large, 35, and his friend 39-year-old Simon Mullen set up a bogus drugs deal to lure their victim to the secluded spot.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court has heard that Mr Hartley, of Haigh Wood Lodge, Batley Road, Tingley, was infatuated with Large and their relationship reached a crisis point after Large began another relationship with Netherton woman Dawn Mallinson.

The prosecution allege that Large wanted Mr Hartley killed so he could continue his relationship with Miss Mallinson and that Mullen was paid a large sum of money to be the gunman.

Miss Mallinson is set to be a witness for the prosecution during the five-week trial, but yesterday the jury heard extracts from Large’s interviews with the police following Mr Hartley’s murder.

During his first interview when he was being treated as a potential witness Large, of Rota Croft, Rothwell, explained how he had been buying and selling cars with Mr Hartley since 1994.

He admitted having four or five sexual relationships with Mr Hartley over the years and described him as volatile.

He said the last relationship ended in March and he then realised he wanted a family and proper future with a wife.

Large initially said he did not know of anyone who would want to hurt Mr Hartley, but later he claimed a number of people had a grudge against him.

He claimed one man had threatened to kill Mr Hartley and he told detectives that the deceased also owed money for drugs.