THE trial of two men accused of involvement in the contract killing of a West Yorkshire car dealer has had to re-start with a new jury.
David Large, 35, of Rona Croft, Rothwell, and his friend Simon Mullen 39, of Farding Square, South Shields, have both denied being involved in the murder of Large's former gay lover Christopher Hartley.
Mr Hartley’s body was found next to his Jaguar car on a quiet country road near Clayton West last September.
A jury at Bradford Crown Court heard last week how the 45-year-old, who lived at Haigh Wood Lodge, Tingley, had been shot in the head and chest after allegedly being lured to the secluded spot at night on the pretext of a drugs deal.
The prosecution has alleged that Mr Hartley was murdered so Large could continue his new relationship with a girlfriend and that Mullen was paid a substantial amount of money to be the gunman.
Yesterday, Judge James Goss QC discharged the jury which had been hearing the case last week and ordered the trial to resume with a new jury.
