A BROTHER told a court on Monday (March 8) of the “cover up operation” which took place following the killing of Michael Gilbert.
Richard Watt, 25, who has already pleaded guilty to a charge of familial homicide, told Luton Crown Court how the body of Mr Gilbert, which was found in the Blue Lagoon at Arlesey, was chopped up in his family's home and the parts then wrapped up.
He said the body was dismembered in a bedroom before the torso was carried and placed in the bath and that his older brother James had cut the body up.
He, James and his other brother Robert had wrapped up the parts and girlfriend Natasha Oldfield had supplied black bags.
The witness was then asked by Stuart Trimmer QC prosecuting why he had taken part and he replied "Because I was too scared not to, scared of James. I was scared of what would happen to me if I didn't do it because of what | have seen him do before. He would have done something to me if I didn't do it."
Richard Watt then told the jury how the body parts were lifted into Nichola Roberts's Ford Escort car by himself, James and younger brother Robert.
He said the parts were taken out of the house in a laundry bag, a black bag and a fishing trolley.
Mr Watt said his brother James had decided that they should take the parts to the Blue Lagoon, strapping the parts to a fishing trolley before dumping them.
Mr Watt said the dead man's head was in a rucksack that also contained a heavy stone.
The jury were told that the fishing trolley couldn't take the weight of the remains of Mr Gilbert and broke and as a result the torso of Mr Gilbert and other parts, which were now inside a builders sandbag, were hidden under some hay near the water's edge. The head in the rucksack was thrown in the water.
He added: "James said if ever the parts were found to say we know nothing about it and to blame it on this person called Barry."
He said that James told them to say that Barry had threatened Mr Gilbert outside the Tesco store in Skimpot Road, Luton.
On trial for murder is James Watt, 27, and Robert Watt, 20, both of Chertsey Close. James Watt’s girlfriend Natasha Oldfield, 29, of the same address, and Nichola Roberts, 21, of Burford Close, Luton, the girlfriend of another brother who is not on trial, all plead not guilty to murdering Michael on or about January 21 last year.
Robert Watt, Oldfield and Roberts also deny an alternative charge of familial homicide.
Robert Watt and Oldfield also deny perverting the course of justice and she denies an offence of assisting an offender.
The brothers’ parents Antonio Watt, 70, and Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, both of Chertsey Close, plead not guilty to familial homicide and perverting the course of justice.
Richard Watt, 25, of Chertsey Close, has already pleaded guilty to familial homicide and one count of perverting the course of justice. He is awaiting sentence.
The jury have been told how Mr Gilbert had been taken in by the family around ten years before his death and stayed with them at various address in Luton.
The jury have been told that Michael died from his beatings.
The case continues.
