Love rival impaled himself, murder accused says

A man accused of murdering his love rival has told a jury the victim died after falling and impaling himself on a metal shaft.

Craig Hurcombe, 39, from Rowde in Wiltshire, was last seen alive on CCTV footage as he arrived at TJ Blanchard Limited in Gurney Slade, Somerset, on 1 January.

Michael Bretton, 41, from Dorset, is accused of killing him in a "premeditated and cold-blooded execution" with a samurai sword, as well as stalking involving fear of violence against a woman. He denies all charges.

Giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court on Monday, Bretton said he followed Hurcombe to his workplace to confront him and buried his body after his death, but he claimed he died in an accident.

The trial previously heard that Bretton had been engaged in a casual relationship with Kate Saunders, which she ended before getting back with her ex-partner, Hurcombe.

It is alleged that Bretton then began stalking Saunders and Hurcombe out of jealousy, fitting trackers to their cars and loitering outside her flat.

Bretton told the court that Saunders had confided in him that she had a restraining order against Hurcombe, who she said had punched walls and even hit her while they were in a relationship.

However, there was no restraining order in place.

Bretton said Saunders had ended their relationship in November, but he went to her flat on 5 December to deliver some Christmas presents and saw Hurcombe going inside.

Two days later, Bretton went to Saunders' flat again, where Hurcombe threatened to put him in hospital.

He admitted to tracking Hurcombe's car and contacting Saunders' brother to warn him that her ex-partner was back in her life.

"Everything I've been told has shown that things are bad for Kate. I was more and more worried for her safety," Bretton said.

Bretton told jurors he had been attacked by Hurcombe a week before he was reported missing.

After ordering a drink at the Railway Inn, Bretton said Hurcombe kicked the back of his right knee and said he "shouldn't be there".

He said they started fighting and fell to the floor, and he ended up with a cut on his head.

Previously the trial was told that Hurcombe, a lorry driver, arrived at Blanchard's yard around 18:30 BST on New Years' Day, to sleep in his vehicle before an early start the following day.

Bretton told the court: "I went to his work to make it clear to him that he couldn't treat her [Saunders] like he had before."

At the site, Bretton said he shouted Hurcombe's name, which he said made the victim fall backwards while climbing into his lorry.

He said Hurcombe then shouted out in pain and collapsed, hitting his head on the lorry's wheel.

"I ran over and looked at him, and his eyes were glazing over, and he was cold... I panicked," Bretton said.

"With everything that has happened, it doesn't look the best."

Bretton said he drove away, but later returned to the scene, adding: "I wanted to cover up what had happened."

Bretton said he moved the body into a wooded area, covered it in gravel and buried it.

He told the court he then found a metal shaft with a jagged edge sticking out of the floor near where Hurcombe had fallen.

Bretton said he burned Hurcombe's clothes and drove his car to a nearby lane and set it on fire.

After driving away, Bretton said he "sat in a field and cried".

He admitted to sending messages to friends and family posing as Hurcombe, as well as picking up a bag of his possessions from Saunders.

"I was continuing what I'd started, I didn't know how to stop it," he said.

Hurcombe's remains were discovered two weeks later in a shallow grave in nearby woodland.

The trial continues.

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