Ex-husband 'tortured to death in his home'

FORMER WIFE AND TWO MEN DENY MURDER OF 38-YEAR-OLD AT TRIAL

- By ANDREW BARDSLEY

A WOMAN has gone on trial accused of murder after her ex-husband was 'tortured to death' in his own home.

Coleen Campbell, 38, denies the murder of her former spouse Thomas Campbell, who was found dead in Mossley, Tameside, after suffering 'terrible pain' during a two-hour ordeal.

Stephen Cleworth, 38, and Reece Steven, 29, also deny murder at a trial at Bolton Crown Court.

Three men lay in wait at Mr Campbell's home and tortured the 38-yearold, inflicting fatal injuries, a jury heard.

Prosecutors said that the couple had been together for eight years but divorced in 2019, and Mr Campbell was in a new relationship with a former girlfriend of alleged 'mastermind' of the attack, 28-year-old John Belfield.

Mr Belfield, who is not before the court and is believed to have fled the country, was said to have read an M.E.N. article about Mr Campbell and his exwife's 'wealthy lifestyle! Prosecutors allege Mr Belfield, Ms Campbell and two other men were part of a plot to rob Mr Campbell at his home.

The alleged plot was a week in the making, prosecutors claimed, after Mr Belfield had contacted Ms Campbell on Instagram. The pair had previously been 'apparent strangers, the court heard.

The jury was told that three men, alleged to be Mr Belfield, Mr Steven and a third unknown person, 'pounced on' Mr Campbell when he arrived home at about 11pm on Saturday, July 2.