Ian Staves murder trial: Cocaine user killed by gang over drugs, court told

Ian Staves suffered multiple injuries and was found dead in Wootton, North Lincolnshire, in September 2022

A cocaine user was strangled to death in a "carefully orchestrated violent attack" by six men who wanted to steal his drugs, a jury has heard.

Ian Staves was found dead at his North Lincolnshire home in September 2022.

Hull Crown Court heard he was being investigated by police after half a kilogram of cocaine and a cannabis grow were found during a raid of his house in Cherry Lane, Wootton, in March 2022.

All six men, from Hull and Scunthorpe, deny murder and manslaughter.

They are:

• Nicholas James St Clair, 35, of Castle Grove, Hull

• Bobby Gibson, 19, of Woodcock Street, Hull

• Aaron Windas, 40, of Anlaby Road, Hull

• Celestino Furtado, 37, of Waterloo Street, Hull

• Jamie Smith, 35, of Skippindale Road, Scunthorpe

• Patrick Smith, 29, no fixed abode

Opening the trial, prosecutor Tom Storey KC said the 44-year-old had been punched, kicked or stamped on his chest and back, struck in the face and had "a hand or other object being held forcibly over his mouth", before he was "strangled to death".

He said the "backdrop to the attack, and possibly even the motive for it," was Mr Staves' involvement in controlled drugs, for which he was under investigation at the time of his death.

"But that does not, however, amount to any sort of justification for his killing", said Mr Storey.

"Their principal plan was to break into his house and steal drugs from him. It is clear that as part of that plan they were fully prepared to use serious violence in order to carry out that plan or to ensure that they got away with it."

A stolen red Corsa was captured on CCTV travelling past Ian Staves' home address multiple times, the prosecution said

The self-employed car sprayer lived alone next door to his mother and had relied on her daily for food and help with domestic chores after a car accident left him with poor mobility. He also had other medical problems, the court heard.

Jurors were told Mr Staves was "heavily addicted to cocaine" and was previously married with kids but the couple had split up "due to his drug use".

Two days before the killing, a red Vauxhall Corsa was stolen in a burglary and then used on the night of the "violent sustained assault", along with a BMW, to transport the defendants - who knew each other - from Hull, across the Humber Bridge to Wootton and back, the court was told.

CCTV captured the gang's movements arriving at Mr Staves' property and he was killed sometime between 22:26 BST and 22:52 in a "carefully orchestrated attack", which involved "a reconnaissance trip" to his house beforehand, the prosecutor said.

Afterwards, the Corsa was dumped elsewhere and found more than a month later by police at a garage in West Yorkshire, with several different false licence plates inside the boot, the jury heard.

Mr Storey said: "Each of the defendants played a role in bringing about his death.

"Each of them was engaged in either the physical attack upon him and his property, or they encouraged, supported or assisted in that attack."

Shouts from the 44-year-old were heard by a neighbour and his body was discovered the next morning by an associate, Ben Chapman, also known as Ben Tomlinson, who had links with the defendants, the court was told.

The trial continues.