Murder trial: victim told of drug deal

A MURDER victim confessed to an old school friend he had a drug problem, a court has heard.

Joseph Washington gave evidence at Hull Crown Court in the trial of Leon Rushworth, who is accused of murdering Dale Partington.

He said in the days leading up to Mr Partington's death, the pair had played darts together.

Mr Washington said Mr Partington had told him he had a new drug dealer called Leon.

Mr Partington said he had given his expensive property to Leon as a "down payment" until he could afford to pay for his drugs.

Mr Washington told the jury: "He said he had found someone else to get drugs off and it was good stuff.

"I asked who it was and he said it was James Courier's uncle, Leon. I had heard of him.

"He said he had given Leon his bike and laptop as a down payment until he could pay for it.

"He didn't say how much money he owed. I saw a text message Leon had sent to him and Dale said, 'He thinks he is a gangster or something wanting all my stuff'."

He said Mr Partington was a social user of cocaine.

In cross-examination, Mr Rushworth's barrister Nicholas Brown QC asked him to name Mr Partington's previous drug dealers but he refused.

Mr Brown asked Mr Washington why he had named Leon Rushworth.

"Because he killed my friend," said Mr Washington. "I'm not prepared to tell who they are because it is nothing to do with this case. If I tell you that, how do I know I'm not going to get the same as him?"

Mr Brown QC suggested that Mr Partington thought "Leon was a soft touch" and was not frightened of him.

Mr Washington replied: "Dale was not frightened of anyone."

Mr Partington, 27, was found collapsed outside his home in St Lawrence Avenue, Snaith, by his mother on December 16 last year.

He bled to death after being stabbed twice in the upper thigh.

The prosecution allege Mr Rushworth, of Chestnut Close, Snaith, and Mr Partington both armed themselves and met in the early hours for a fight.

It is alleged Mr Rushworth knocked both his victim's front teeth out before stabbing him twice.

The court heard Mr Partington's laptop and bike were found at Mr Rushworth's home.

Mr Rushworth's partner Anne Kennedy allegedly told a police officer hours after the murder that her partner had lent Mr Partington some money and was holding the property until he repaid him.

She said her partner had called Mr Partington to ask for his money back and had been sworn at and threatened by him.

She claimed she witnessed the fight between the two men and claims Mr Rushworth never assaulted him and he ran off.

A statement from PC Craig Atkin was read to the jury about how he found the alleged murder weapon at the bottom of the River Aire.

He said he was part of an underwater search unit and had seen the knife on the riverbed in January.

It is alleged Miss Kennedy's nephew, James Courier, had disposed of the weapon.

Mr Rushworth denies murder and the trial continues.