Gay lover denies part in Clayton West murder of Christopher Hartley

Mar 12 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A few weeks after the killing Large was arrested again as a suspect and after officers disclosed details of Miss Mallinson’s account to him he said he found it difficult to believe what she had said.

“He said it was complete fantasy and she had made the whole thing up,” said prosecutor Alistair McDonald QC.

“In the rest of the interview he launched what was a full scale attack on the character of the Miss Mallinson.”

Large described her as a woman scorned and very insecure.

On the opening day of the trial the jury heard allegations that Mullen, of Farding Square, South Shields, had gone on a £25,000 spending spree buying expensive televisions, a home entertainment system and furniture.

But when he was interviewed by police the offshore worker denied being involved in Mr Hartley’s death.

Mullen said he had started out transporting cars for Large, but had then become involved in moving fake Ecstasy tablets to the North East for him.

He claimed that he had bought a plasma television and a van using money from “fiddle jobs” and payments for moving cars and drugs.

Mullen also claimed that he received about £20,000 from Large after he signed documents in connection with a mortgage on a house in Tingley.

The jury has heard that CCTV footage shows a meeting between Large and Mullen on the seafront in South Shields days after the killing, but Mullen told the police that no money changed hands.

He told officers that Large said he was “scared and upset” about what had happened to Mr Hartley and he had moved in with Miss Mallinson because he did not feel safe at home.

Large and Mullen both deny the murder charge.

The trial continues.