Christopher Hartley murder accused admits drug runs

Apr 16 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A SOUTH Shields man accused of gunning down a West Yorkshire car dealer in a contract killing has denied carrying out the shooting.

Former offshore worker Simon Mullen – who is alleged to have been involved in the murder of Tingley man Christopher Hartley last September – told a jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday that he was not the gunman who shot the 45-year-old in the head and chest on a quiet country road, Litherop Lane in Clayton West.

At the start of his evidence 39-year-old Mullen was immediately asked by his barrister whether he had shot Mr Hartley.

“No I did not,’’ replied Mullen.

The prosecution has alleged that Mullen was recruited by his close friend David Large, 35, to carry out the killing of his former gay lover and business partner.

It is alleged Large wanted to continue his relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn Mallinson, and a plot was hatched to lure Mr Hartley to a lay-by on the pretext of a drugs deal.

Although Mr Hartley and Large were involved in car dealing, after the killing it was discovered that a drugs factory for producing fake ecstasy pills was operating from a bungalow owned by the dead man in the grounds of his five-bedroomed detached home on Batley Road.

Mullen told the jury that he had started out helping Large with cars, but admitted that he later became involved in transporting thousands of fake pills from Leeds to South Shields.

Mullen, who said he had never met Mr Hartley, said he was paid £500 for each trip which usually involved a consignment of 10,000 tablets.

He said he was paid cash by the buyer in South Shields and he would pass the money on to Large when he came down to Leeds for the next trip.