Alleged 'mastermind' fled to South America after Thomas Campbell ‘tortured to death', jury told
John Belfield denies murdering Thomas Campbell
The alleged ‘mastermind’ of a plot to rob a man which ended in him being ‘tortured to death’ fled to South America in the aftermath of the attack, a trial has heard.
John Belfield, 31, denies conspiring to rob and murder Thomas Campbell, and is standing trial. Mr Campbell, 38, was found naked in his hallway by neighbours the following morning after he had been ‘pounced upon’ by three men at the front door of his home in Mossley, Tameside, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Prosecutors allege that Mr Belfield, who was described as being the ‘mastermind’ of the attack, had ‘motivation’ for planning to rob Mr Campbell. Jurors were told that Mr Belfield was allegedly seeking ‘items of value’ from Mr Campbell’s home.
They also heard that Mr Campbell was in a relationship with Mr Belfield’s ex-girlfriend, and that Mr Belfield had displayed ‘hostility’ towards the pair.
The jury was told that three people were previously convicted in connection with Mr Campbell’s death following a trial in 2023.
Coleen Campbell, Mr Campbell’s ex-wife, was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. The couple, who had two children together, had divorced in 2019.
Prosecutors said that Campbell, from Clayton, gave details to Mr Belfield about her ex-husband’s movements, including by passing on information from her children. Stephen Cleworth, from Heywood, who had acted as a driver for Mr Belfield, was also convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.
Prosecutors said he planted a tracker on Mr Campbell’s vehicle, and that he was involved in carrying out ‘reconnaissance’ at his home. He was not present at the scene of the murder. Reece Steven, from Middleton, described by prosecutors as being Mr Belfield’s ‘right hand man’, was convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob.
He was found to have been one of the three men who bundled Mr Campbell into his home before he was tortured and killed, on July 2, 2022. The prosecution alleges that Mr Belfield and a third, unknown man, were also present at the time of the attack, which was said to have been the product of ‘very careful planning by a team of highly organised criminals’.
“From first to last, John Belfield was the driving force behind this horrific killing,” Nicholas de la Poer KC told jurors.
The prosecutor said of Mr Campbell: “As he went to open his front door, he was pounced on by three men who had been waiting for his return.
“Following a struggle on the doorstep, in which Thomas Campbell was seriously injured, the three men bundled him into his house. He was then subjected to two hours of torture. The three men were well prepared, having brought with them the means to restrain and the means to inflict terrible pain.
“Many injuries and indignities were inflicted upon Thomas Campbell during this time. While this was happening, his house was searched. In the end, the burden of injury inflicted upon him during his ordeal caused Thomas Campbell to die. He was, to all intents and purposes, tortured to death.”
Mr de la Poer said that Mr Belfield, who wore a blue polo T-shirt and glasses in the dock, ‘fled’ the country ‘immediately following the incident. “He did not do so in the conventional way, using his own passport,” the KC said.
“He fled to Suriname, a country in South America with which he had no prior connection that the prosecution is aware of. The prosecution’s case is John Belfield ran away to South America because he knew, following the discovery of Thomas Campbell’s body, that it was only a matter of time before the police caught up with him.”
Prosecutors claim that Mr Belfield was following the trial in 2023 ‘from afar’ and was ‘seeking to influence the outcome’.
“He followed the trial closely and told his team what to say when they were being questioned,” Mr de la Poer claimed. Mr Belfield, of no fixed address, denies murder and conspiracy to rob.
Proceeding.