Amateur artist accused of murdering Ashtead woman came to UK to sell paintings, defence claims (From Your Local Guardian)

Amateur artist accused of murdering Ashtead woman came to UK to sell paintings, defence claims

1:51pm Wednesday 28th July 2010 in

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An amateur artist accused of being the hitman who murdered an Ashtead woman came to Britain to sell his paintings, but did not bring a single piece of work with him, a court heard.

Paul Cryne, 62, allegedly killed Sharon Birchwood, 52, of Harriotts Lane, on the orders of her debt-ridden husband Graham Birchwood. The couple were divorced but George Birchwood, 56, was the sole beneficiary of her will and stood to gain £475,000 on her death.

Birchwood has been convicted of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, the Old Bailey has heard.

Mr Cryne, his friend from Thailand, stands accused of garroting Mrs Birchwood in her bungalow after being hired to do so.

He earlier told jurors that he travelled to Britain to raise funds for his art project, having just earned £60,000 from a “masterpiece copy” he had done.

But prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said on Monday (July 26) the story was a “figment of his imagination”.

Asked in cross examination why he did not bring any of his work to show the potential buyers he claimed to have met, Mr Cryne said: “I sent him an email, with a brochure of my artwork in it.”

Mr Dennis said: “So you decided to come from the other side of the world at very short notice, the principle reason being to get this man to help raise money for your art project and are you seriously saying to the jury that it didn't occur to you to bring a sample of your work to show or leave with this man?”

Mr Cryne said: “As soon as I got back, I could have sent him one from an email, straight from a brochure.”

Mr Cryne said he met two potential investors called “Ozzy” and “Kenny”, but could not remember their surnames or where they lived.

Mr Dennis said: “The only reason the Crown knows you don't have these addresses and names is because these people are a figment of your imagination.

“You have created them.”

He went to stay with Birchwood at his mother's house in Banstead, but insists he had nothing to do with the murder of Mrs Birchwood, which happened when he was in the country.

Birchwood pretended to discover the body of his wife three days after Mr Cryne had killed her in her bungalow in Harriotts Lane, on December 4, 2007, it is claimed.

The killer bound Mrs Birchwood wrists and ankles with masking tape and wound it around her head.

Painstaking forensic work later allegedly recovered traces of Mr Cryne's DNA from Mrs Birchwood's right hand.

Mr Cryne, of no fixed address but originally from Torquay, Devon, denies murder.

The trial continues.