Wrexham,North Wales - Accused convicted of threatening to kill Oswestry man who was later stabbed

Published date: 15 July 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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Stafford Crown Court (Picture: Google) 

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been convicted of threatening to kill a man who was later stabbed in a dispute over money.

Luke Cross was also found guilty after a three-day trial of threatening to burn down Barry Wright’s home in phone calls to the victim's daughter.

The jury at Stafford Crown Court heard three other men – Telmo Bernardo, 18, of Glan Cors, Caia Park, Wrexham, Arsene Cubaka,  23, of Somerton Court, Erdington, Birmingham and Nathan McCarthy, 22, of Abdon Avenue, Selly Oaks, Birmingham – had all pleaded guilty to offences relating to the attack on Mr Wright in January at a property at Castlefields in Oswestry.

Cross, of Mount View, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, had denied two charges of making threats to kill and a threat to cause criminal damage.

During the trial the jury heard Cross and his three associates were said to be involved in the supply of drugs in the Oswestry area.

Mr Wright was a cocaine addict and the attack on him was motivated by Cross and the others believing the victim had taken some of their money.

On January 23 Mr Wright was attacked at a friend’s house and suffered a stab wound to the left side of his back, causing injuries to his spleen and a kidney which had to be removed.

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At the time he lived in Queen Elizabeth Drive in Oswestry and his daughter lived at the same address.

Georgia Wright knew Cross and the other men and had a casual relationship with the defendant who was known to be one of the sources of drugs for her father and on occasions Miss Wright had ‘looked after’ money for Cross and the others.

The threats were made by Cross in phone calls to Miss Wright when it was discovered the money – said to be £600 – was missing.

Miss Wright said Cross had told her her father would be killed and his home would be burned down. 

His intention was she would believe the threats would be carried out if the money was not repaid.

Earlier that day Cubaka, McCarthy and Bernardo were angry when they found the money was missing later traced Mr Wright to the house the Castlefields area.

Judge Michael Chambers QC adjourned sentence on Cross, Bernardo, 18, of Glan Gors, Caia Park, Wrexham, McCarthy, 22, of Abdon Avenue, Selly Oak, Birmingham and Cubaka, 23 of Somerton Court, Erdington, Birmingham, to a date to be fixed and all four men remain in custody.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/164385/accused-convicted-of-threatening-to-kill-oswestry-man-who-was-later-stabbed.aspx