Man's death was 'premeditated', court hears

Paul Taylor was last seen travelling to Carlisle on 17 October

The death of a man who was found buried in woodland was "premeditated", a court has heard.

Prosecutors told Carlisle Crown Court that Paul Taylor, 53, died sometime between meeting 20-year-old Jack Crawley on 17 October last year and the following morning.

The skeletal remains of Mr Taylor, from Annan, were found in Finglandrigg Woods, Cumbria, in May this year.

Crawley, of Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle, denies one charge of murder. He previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, citing self-defence.

He also denies a charge of attempted murder, relating to a separate attack in York.

'Murder on his mind'

The court heard Mr Taylor was married with a family but had a sexual interest in men, meeting them through dating apps such as Grindr, something his family were unaware of.

After he was arrested, Crawley initially denied knowing Mr Taylor but later pleaded guilty to his manslaughter and told Cumbria Police the location of his body.

Prosecutor David McLachlan said Crawley had "murder on his mind", and the prosecution would prove his intent.

Marcus Goodfellow, 20, of Greystone Road, Carlisle, appeared in court alongside Crawley. He is said to have helped with the disposal of Mr Taylor's car, a Vauxhall Corsa, which was found in Langwathby on 19 October.

'Carbon copy'

Following his initial arrest in Carlisle, Crawley was released on bail with conditions in November, but at the end of the year disappeared from his grandparents' home in the city.

On 5 January, while in York, Crawley is said to have arranged to meet a man via the dating app Grindr.

The pair went to a remote location, where the man performed a sex act on Crawley, who then is alleged to have attacked him with a hammer.

Mr McLachlan told the court the jury would have to decide whether this too was self-defence, or whether it was "almost a carbon copy" of what occurred in Carlisle.

The trial continues and is expected to last until 24 October.