The distressed daughter of a married Scot allegedly murdered texted him “please come back, dad” after he went missing.
Former Army serviceman Paul Taylor, 56, was last seen by his wife, Maria, at their family home in Annan on the night of October, 17 2023.
Mr Taylor’s disappearance sparked a murder probe after his blue Vauxhall Corsa was found crashed and abandoned in a north Cumbria village. In May this year, his skeletal remains were found in a shallow grave within woodland west of Carlisle close to a “burn site”.
Jack Crawley, then 19 and now aged 20, was quizzed several times and led police to the body. Crawley is on trial at Carlisle Crown Court. He admits manslaughter and the unlawful killing of Mr Taylor but denies his murder.
As evidence began in the trial earlier today, jurors were taken through a detailed timeline of events featuring phone communication, maps, CCTV stills and video footage from the hours, days, weeks and months before Mr Taylor’s death.
There were also photos taken on Crawley’s phone of Mr Taylor’s blue Vauxhall Corsa early on October 18. These were sent to a number of people, including scrap and car dealers. “Got a 2018 Vauxhall Corsa, around 60k miles, no reg, no logbook, £2,000,” read one message. “You interested?” asked another.
Giving evidence, and asked to interpret this contact, detective inspector Amanda Sykes said of Crawley: “He is contacting a number of different people, sending instant messages, offering the sale of the vehicle to other parties.”
At around 11am that morning, Crawley placed a £27.81 Uber Eats order, buying a hot chocolate, ham and cheese toastie, salted caramel frappe, rocky road confectionery and a croissant. Jurors also heard Crawley and Mr Taylor were in contact 10 months before his disappearance.
Two single text messages of unknown content were sent by Mr Taylor, a Carlisle Cumberland Infirmary catering manager, to Crawley — a security guard at the same Carlisle hospital, on both December 15 and 26, 2022.
On July 17, 2023, Crawley — using the name “Jamie” — then contacted Mr Taylor through the Grindr dating app. “Hi it’s me sorry couldn’t meet my dad wouldn’t let me leave and was checking my phone,” the teen stated.
Mr Taylor replied “ok”, then “it’s cool thought something to do with that” and finally “talk on WhatsApp it’s easier”.
One of three phones used by Mr Taylor — his personal device — was never found, jurors heard. A different phone recovered from his car had Crawley’s number as a deleted contact stored under a different name. Evidence from two phones seized from Crawley showed Mr Taylor’s number as a deleted contact.
Statements were read to jurors from two men who shared sexual encounters with Mr Taylor. “Paul was a nice and gentle guy. I got the impression he wasn’t happy and living a confusing life,” said one.
The court has heard Mr Taylor’s family were unaware of his sexual interest in men.
He was reported missing by his wife at 12.49pm on October 18. At 3.23pm, Mr Taylor’s daughter, Beth, sent him a text which read: “Please come back dad.” Voicemails were later left by Mr Taylor’s sister, Angela Malloy, and a concerned friend.
Opening the case yesterday, prosecutor David McLachlan KC alleged Crawley had killed Mr Taylor in a “premeditated” and planned attack in which “severe violence was meted out” and the victim’s head “completely smashed in”.
Crawley, Mr McLachlan alleged, had “murder on his mind” after listening to a song called Romantic Homicide on the night that Mr Taylor was last seen. Lyrics included the lines: “In the back of my mind I killed you, and I didn’t even regret it. I can’t believe I said it but it’s true, I hate you.”
Earlier in October, Crawley had bought two packets of winter essential clothing, each containing a black beanie, neck warmer and gloves.
Hours before Mr Taylor’s disappearance, Crawley purchased charcoal and a lighter from a Carlisle shop.
Jurors have also seen CCTV footage showing the final movements of Mr Taylor just before midnight on October 17.
When initially interviewed by police, Crawley denied any involvement in Mr Taylor’s death, and also claimed at first he did not know him.
Crawley, of Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle, further denies the attempted murder of a second man several months later during a sexual liaison in Yorkshire. He was allegedly attacked with a hammer.
A second man on trial, 20-year-old hospital security guard Marcus Goodfellow, of Greystone Road, Carlisle, denies assisting an offender. The trial continues.