Murder-accused 'attacked other man with hammer'

Paul Taylor went missing in October 2023 and his remains were found in May

A man accused of murdering an army veteran skipped bail and tried to kill another man with a hammer, a court has heard.

Jack Crawley, 20, of Carlisle, led police to the remains of Paul Taylor, from Annan - who had gone missing the previous October - in May this year.

Appearing at Carlisle Crown Court, Crawley admits the ex-serviceman’s manslaughter but denies his murder.

The court heard that while on bail, he travelled to York where he met a man he had chatted to on a dating app and assaulted him with a hammer.

Crawley had been on bail in relation to the death of Mr Taylor and was told he must remain in Carlisle.

The jury has previously heard that Mr Taylor’s skull was bludgeoned at least 10 times before his body was set alight then "dragged" into a makeshift grave and hidden in woodland.

A pathologist said he had suffered severe arm injuries indicating he may have tried to fight off his killer.

Multiple skull injuries

A claw hammer could also have caused multiple skull injuries, the court heard.

The expert also concluded fractures he found did not tie in with Crawley’s account that Mr Taylor had fallen back and hit his head during an altercation between the pair.

The court heard that Crawley left Carlisle despite his bail conditions on New Year’s Eve.

He travelled to York where he bought a claw hammer from a DIY store.

He also contacted a man 30 years his senior on a dating app, using the fake name Kyle.

'All very quick'

On 5 January, the older man picked up Crawley in his car in York.

They drove to a secluded spot close to an old airfield at nearby Acaster Malbis.

Giving evidence, the man said the purpose of the meeting was "a quick sexual encounter".

During the encounter, he told the court: "I felt a very hard, severe blow on my head.

"I jumped up very quickly, I was hit a further three times."

He said he believed he was hit with a hammer.

"It was all very, very quick," he added.

"He just basically wanted to hurt me. He was aggressive."

He said he managed to disarm Crawley, who ran away.

Crawley denies attempting to murder the man, claiming he acted in self-defence after a knife was pulled on him.

During cross-examination by Crawley’s counsel, Toby Hedworth KC, the man said: "There was no knife at all."

The trial continues.