Trial begins over Ashtead murder (From Surrey Comet)

Trial begins over alleged Ashtead murder of Sharon Birchwood

1:39pm Wednesday 7th July 2010 in Epsom By Thais Portilho-Shrimpton

A man who trussed up, bound, gagged and asphyxiated a disabled woman at the request of her ex-husband came from Thailand especially to commit the murder, a court heard.

Paul Cryne flew in from Thailand and killed Sharon Birchwood a few days later in her bungalow on Harriots Lane, Ashtead, at the request of Graham Birchwood, a jury at the Old Bailey heard.

Mrs Birchwood, 52, an ME sufferer, was found by paramedics in her bedroom, fully clothed at 1pm on Friday December 7, 2007.

She had been trussed up, bound and gagged with parcel tape and electrical wire. Her ankles had been tied and there was tape around her neck and head, the court heard.

The electrical cord had been repeatedly wound around her head and a small metal handle had been used, it appeared, to act as a tourniquet.

The ligature around her neck and the gagging of her mouth had caused asphyxia, the jury was told.

She was found by paramedics who were called by her ex-husband.

The victim’s ex-husband, Birchwood, who was convicted of the murder of Mrs Birchwood in July last year, had business ventures in South East Asia, especially Thailand, where he met his co-conspirator Mr Cryne, the jury heard.

Prosecutor, Mark Dennis QC, alleged Mr Cryne flew into Britain a few days before the murder on November 26 at Birchwood’s request, and left the country in the morning of December 5, some hours after Mrs Birchwood had been killed.

He was caught on CCTV at Heathrow Airport and had been staying at the home of Mr Birchwood’s mother at Green Curve, Banstead.

The court heard how Birchwood received a phone call from Mr Cryne on his mobile at 8.10pm on December 4, to inform him the job had been done, before setting off to Heathrow airport where he stayed overnight waiting for his morning flight.

Mr Dennis said although no fingerprints were left at the scene, police found Mr Cryne’s DNA on a duvet cover and a piece of tape.

Mr Cryne was extradited from Thailand and arrived in the UK in August last year.

The court heard how Birchwood had been in serious debts due to the failure of his business ventures and was at risk of bankruptcy.

He was, however, the sole beneficiary of Mrs Birchwood’s will, which included the bungalow, valued at £400,000 plus £70,000 from her life insurance, the court heard.

The bungalow was jointly owned with Mr Birchwood, although they had been divorced for many years.

Mr Birchwood had put forward ideas for selling the house but she had refused, stressing she enjoyed living there.

Mr Dennis said: "His only hope for any change to his circumstances was if he found a pot of gold – enough money to allow him to clear his debts and start all over again.

"But he did not want to take the risk of killing her himself as he realised he would always be a suspect.

"He needed to get someone else, who would not be noticed after the event and would not attract the attention of the police.

"All he had to do after that was to keep a cool head and assist the police in their inquiries.

"It nearly worked for him. Had it not been for some painstaking detective work, he would have got away with it."

Mr Dennis told the jury Sharon Birchwood had no known enemies.

"She was a quiet, ordinary person burdened by ill-health and a lack of a real social life, living in rather poor conditions and not having two pennies to rub together," he said.

"But she lived in a property worth a considerable sum of money."

Mrs Birchwood was probably caught by surprise at home and was either unconscious or paralysed with fear while Mr Cryne wrapped the tape around her hands and legs, the court heard.

Mr Dennis said: "The victim seemed to have been taken by surprise and had been incapacitated almost immediately.

"A postage stamp was still clasped in her right hand. She had not even had time to open her hand and let it go."

Mr Cryne denies murder.

The trial continues.