Murder accused called 'coward' and 'liar' in court

A man accused of murdering his former partner's lover with a samurai sword has been called a "coward" and a "liar" in court.

Michael Bretton, 41, from Dorset, is charged with the murder of Craig Hurcombe, 39, from Rowde in Wiltshire. Bretton denies the charge.

It is alleged Bretton killed him in a "premeditated and cold-blooded execution" at TJ Blanchard Limited in Somerset on 1 January, because he was jealous Hurcombe was seeing his former partner.

Speaking in his own defence at Bristol Crown Court, Bretton said it was an accident. "I did not kill Craig," he said.

Bretton told the court that he had merely wanted to speak to Hurcombe on the night he died, to warn him not to treat Saunders badly.

He said Hurcombe died in a "tragic accident" when he fell on a sharp piece of metal.

Mark Cotter KC, prosecuting, asked Bretton about how he had tracked both Hurcombe and his former partner Kate Saunders in December last year.

Bretton admitted buying tracking devices online and regularly visiting Saunders' address in Portishead in the weeks leading up to Hurcombe's death, despite having been told by police to leave her alone.

Bretton also admitted visiting Hurcombe's place of work, where he died on 1 January this year, several times in the middle of the night.

Asked why, he said he did not know it was his place of work at the time.

"I was trying to work out what was going on and why he was there," Bretton said.

"It was a recce wasn't it," Cotter said.

"No it wasn't," Bretton replied.

"This was a planned murder," Cotter suggested.

"No it wasn't, it was a tragic accident," Bretton said.

Discussing the immediate aftermath of Hurcombe's death, Bretton said he panicked.

"I knew of things going on that would look a certain way," he said.

Instead of calling for help, Bretton said he dragged Hurcombe's body to an area of woodland, burnt his clothes and then buried the body in a shallow grave.

Bretton also admitted taking the SIM card out of Hurcombe's phone and putting it in his own device so he could access Hurcombe's WhatsApp messages, later sending some pretending to be Hurcombe.

"[It] doesn't look like you're panicking, does it," Cotter said.

"I assure you I was," Bretton replied.

The trial continues.

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