Man who filmed Christopher Hartley murder trial witness is jailed

May 5 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A CONVICTED criminal who visited a murder suspect in prison and then secretly filmed part of his trial has been jailed for a year.

Father-of-one Aftab Khan used a recording device disguised as a pen to film part of the high profile case at Bradford Crown Court, but his activities can only be reported now that the trial has reached its conclusion.

David Large, 36, of Rona Croft, Rothwell, Leeds, and his friend 39-year-old Simon Mullen, of Farding Square, South Shields, have both been jailed for life after a jury found them guilty of the contract killing of Christopher Hartley.

After the pair were locked up yesterday, Judge James Goss QC lifted a court order which prevented Khan’s sentence from being reported.

Last week the widowed 37-year-old, of Back Giles Street, Little Horton, Bradford, was locked up for 12 months after he admitted contempt of court arising out of his filming of the trial back in March.

The judge was told that prior to buying the Swann PenCam device for £49.99 at a Bradford electrical store Khan had visited Large twice in prison.

The court heard that Khan, who has previous convictions for perverting the course of justice and wounding with intent, had asked for a device which would not be spotted if he was searched and was willing to pay a substantial sum to get it.