CCTV footage has shown the final movements of a 52-year-old man before he was strangled to death in his own garden. The jury in the trial of Kevin Horswill was shown a compilation of footage of Richard Langley making his way home from The Star pub in Thaxted to his address in Orchard Close in the village.
Horswill, 51, of Magdalen Green in Thaxted, denies murdering Mr Langley. Chelmsford Crown Court previously heard that Horswill had shouted “You’re a dead man” to the victim during an altercation at The Star on March 17 last year. Mr Langley had walked the short distance from the pub to his home following the incident.
CCTV footage from various cameras in residents’ properties showed him walking the five-minute route from the pub in Mill End to Orchard Close, carrying a box of Coca-Cola. The altercation in the pub happened on the evening of March 17 after 9pm.
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The jury was told that Horswill is alleged to have initially gone home with his partner from the pub before making his way to Orchard Close. Footage played to the jury captures Horswill walking on some of the same roads as Mr Langley in the direction of his address.
Horswill is alleged to have carried out the fatal attack at around 11.30pm, before being recorded on the same cameras calmly walking back in the direction of his own home. Mr Langley was found unresponsive in the garden by his partner at around 12.35am on March 18, as she put the cat out, prosecutor Andrew Jackson told the jury on Tuesday (January 14). He had been strangled with his own shirt.
Alleged murderer Kevin Horswill walking towards Richard Langley’s address
(Image: Essex Police)
The jury previously heard that Horswill had become enraged following an alleged incident between Mr Langley and Horswill’s partner in the pub, and instead of using “common sense” and gone to bed, had let his anger “fester” before carrying out “murderous revenge” on the victim. Horswill claims his actions were in self-defence and Mr Langley attacked him.
The trial continues.