Simon Johnson murder case: Workmate tells jury of finding friend's body
The body of a 41-year-old father of two, allegedly murdered by two teenagers stealing cannabis plants from his home, was found by a workmate, a jury heard.
Max Richardson made the grim discovery when he arrived at the home of window fitter Simon Johnson to take him to their job on August 11 last year.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that having no response, he got in through an unlocked door to the house in Cradley Road, Netherton, and found Mr Johnson dead at the top of the stairs.
He saw cannabis leaves and debris on the lounge floor.
His brother-in-law Josh Denny visited Mr Johnson hours before the murder and saw three teenagers visit.
He said: “They were speaking to him about a lost mobile phone. Simon had had it pinched. They said they knew who had stolen it and had got a new one. He was very grateful.”
These were Jack Griffin, Abbey Hughes and Clayton Pritchard, all 18. The court has heard that Griffin had stolen the phone after they met Mr Johnson in a pub six days earlier and were invited back to his home.
The prosecution says their visit was to start a string of cannabis thefts while Mr Johnson slept that led to his murder, allegedly at the hands of 19-year-old Damilola Johnson – no relation and of no fixed address – and a 16-year-old youth.
Both deny the claim and the trial continues.
Griffin, Hughes and Pritchard have all been sentenced but had nothing to do with the murder.
