Crabtree murder trial: Jury told ‘pair plotted to rob drug courier after smoking crack cocaine and drinking vodka’ shortly before courier was shot

A jury has heard claims of how two men plotted to rob a drug courier in Peterborough, shortly before the courier was shot dead by one of the pair.

Mihai Dobre died in the early hours of April 13 after he was shot in the head as he delivered drugs in Crabree, Paston, Peterborough.

Lewis Hutchinson has accepted he fired the shot, and has pleaded guilty to his manslaughter, but denies murder and conspiracy to rob.

Christopher Pycroft has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob, and on 24 January, Pycroft took to the witness stand at Peterborough Crown Court to tell the jury his version of events.

He claimed Hutchinson had come up with the plan to rob a drugs courier after the pair had been drinking and smoking crack cocaine, and turned up to Pycroft’s home with a shotgun.

However, Nathan Rasiah KC, defending Hutchinson, suggested that was not the case.

Stuart Trimmer KC, prosecuting, asked Pycroft if Hutchinson would come to his home a lot.

He answered: “He (Lewis Hutchinson) would come to the address a lot. We would smoke drugs - crack cocaine. It would probably be twice, three times a week.”

He said Hutchinson came to his home at 9pm on April 12.

He said: “Yes. He came round earlier that day, at about 6pm, then at 9pm.

“We sat there drinking vodka and having a couple of pipes, smoking crack cocaine.”

Pycroft said Hutchinson was wearing black clothing, possibly a tracksuit.

He said his (Pycroft’s) partner and a friend were also in the room. He said they smoked a ‘£20 stone’ of crack cocaine each and had ordered the drugs from a dealer known as ‘Randy.’

Pycroft said they had finished the drugs at about 11pm.

Mr Trimmer said: “Was anything said by Hutchinson? “

Pycroft replied: “That is when he started speaking about wanting to rob somebody.”

Mr Trimmer asked: “What did he say?”

Pycroft replied: “Basically ‘who can we rob? We must know someone we can rob.’”

Mr Trimmer asked: “Did you get involved in the conversation?”

Pycroft said: “Yes. I said there wasn’t anyone we could rob. Then I said we could rob ‘the Turks’ - they are some random drug dealers.”

“I had a plaster cast on. I said I wouldn’t be much use. He was saying there wasn’t much I would be needed to do.

“He said he’d have it sorted. And he would go for a tool.

“I could see him implying a gun. I didn’t believe it. I’d never seen a gun in my life.”

‘Was all excited’

Pycroft said Hutchinson left the home at about 11pm, returning around half an hour later.

He said: “I answered the door. When he came in, he pulled a shotgun from his trousers. He had it down his trouser leg.

“He came in and was all excited.”

Pycroft demonstrated to the jury how he said Hutchinson was holding the gun in two hands.

He said: “He seemed excited. He had more energy - he was full of energy, bouncing up and down.”

He described the gun as a single barrel shot gun.

Pycroft said his partner used the phone and ordered ‘two tickets’ of cocaine from ‘the Turks,’ with each ticket worth £20, with the plan the dealers would deliver the drugs to the home.

He said he and Hutchinson came up with the plan to rob the driver. He said: “I was supposed to go to the drivers’ side window, and he was supposed to spring out and say ‘hand them over.’

“That was the plan. He was supposed to pull out the gun and tell them to hand over the drugs.”

Pycroft said they were waiting outside when they saw headlights from a car.

He said: “We walked up to the car, and I went to go around it and onto the path. At the back of the car, Lewis stopped. I walked to the driver side window.

“He (Lewis) stood there. I started speaking to the driver.”

Pycroft said he only had one £20 note, which he described as ‘dodgy,’ and the driver realised it was not enough money.

‘I was scared’

He said: “I saw him (Hutchinson) standing with the gun. He was supposed to come round the corner, but he was just standing there. He was standing about a metre behind the back driver side window.

“I said to the driver something like ‘yeah, you alright mate, can I have two?’ He saw there was not enough money in my hand.

“Lewis was supposed to come round the corner and threaten him, but he didn’t move. Then it escalated in an instant.

“He (Dobre) went to drive off at the same kind of time as the gun went off. I don’t know what happened first.

“The driver side window shattered. I couldn’t see anything. I was scared.”

Mr Trimmer asked; “Could you see where the gun was pointed?”Pycroft said: “Towards the car. I didn’t really see more than that.

“My ears started ringing. That’s all I could hear.

“He (Hutchinson) ran off straight away. I gathered my thoughts and I ran. I was scared.”

“I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it.”

Pycroft said he went home, where his friend took his clothes and phone and got rid of them.

Hutchinson, 29, of Eastern Avenue, Peterborough, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and not guilty to murder and conspiracy to rob.

Pycroft, 40, of Crabtree, Paston, Peterborough has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob.

The trial continues.