Man denies helping killer evade police after brutal gang murder

On June 1, 2017, 27-year old Christopher Lemonius was beaten to death by a gang of men and left for dead in an alleyway off Jourdain Road, Blackbird Leys.

Four men were convicted of his murder after a trial last year - Rashaun Stoute, Otman Lamzini, Carlos Spencer and Conner Woodward, while Yasine Lamzini was convicted of his manslaughter.

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At Oxford Crown Court yesterday Kieron Charlett, of Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys, appeared for the first day of his trial accused of helping one of the killers - Carlos Spencer - get from Oxford to Birmingham while police investigations into the killing continued.

The 35-year old denies one count of doing acts tending to pervert the course of public justice.

Outlining the case against him before jurors yesterday prosecutor Kirsty Allman said that Charlett drove Spencer out of the city after police began making arrests on June 6 2017.

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She said: "He helped him to go on the run, the result of which significantly impacted the murder investigation."

Taking to the witness box a detective inspector involved in the murder investigation Mike Roddy told jurors that after Spencer went to Birmingham it was four months later that he was finally caught and arrested in Thame.

He told the court that while initial efforts had been made to locate Spencer he was not located.

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A series of arrests were then made for his co-defendants on June 3 and 4 but it later became apparent Spencer had fled to Birmingham.

He said: "It was increasingly frustrating because we only have finite resources and our resources had to be used in trying to locate where Carlos Spencer was as opposed to investigating the murder.

"It was quite clear Carlos Spencer was highly involved in the incident and he was central to our case and we didn't want him not to be involved in the trial with the other defendants."

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Jurors were also told that the killers' phone numbers were changed in the days following the murder which further frustrated police efforts to find them.

When Charlett was interviewed by police, jurors were told, he gave differing accounts before accepting he had driven to Birmingham but said it was only because he was 'worried' about his friend and fearful Spencer might harm himself.

Charlett denies the charge and the trial continues.