Murder suspect: Victim kicked out of home for beating girlfriend
A murder suspect told police her alleged victim was kicked out of her home because he was a girlfriend beater, a jury heard.
Michelle Bird, aged 35, said 39-year-old Michael Spalding had been told to leave the Smethwick home they shared with her partner and co-accused Lorenzo Simon because he had attacked Kirsty Fryer and was a drug addict.
However, she refused to comment when asked whether she had played any part in murdering Mr Spalding and disposing of his body at Icknield Port Loop in Birmingham, describing it as a 'total shock' when she heard he had died.
Her responses to police questions were acted out in court by Dc Mark Harrison, who said Mr Spalding and his partner had initially moved in with Bird and Simon because he was trying to get off drugs and was looking for somewhere to stay. Dc Harrison said the couple had offered Mr Spalding and Miss Fryer a home.
Bird said Simon agreed to ask the landlord of their house in Oxford Road, Smethwick, if he could find work for Mr Spalding and he began carrying out unpaid decorating.
However, although the first three weeks were fine, the arrangement soon deteriorated due to the problems between Mr Spalding and his girlfriend, who had shown Bird bruises on her arm, the court heard.
She said she had also witnessed him run down the stairs and 'boot' Miss Fryer in the leg, as well as giving her a 'backhander' to the face, while his girlfriend also showed her a bite mark she said had been caused by her partner.
The result was - Bird claimed - that Simon, aged 34, said Miss Fryer should stay at the home, while her boyfriend should leave.
Bird said: "I can't be like that. I can't bear men beating women. I spoke to my partner and said 'I can't live with that' and he said 'man, he is gone. He is out of here soon.'"
Earlier, Dc Harrison also acted out statements from Simon, who refused to comment when asked about the circumstances surrounding Mr Spalding's death.
However, Simon said the reason Mr Spalding was kicked out of the house was because he had been attacking his girlfriend.
"That's the reason I asked him to leave because he kept arguing and screaming and shouting and beating up his missus. That is the reason I asked him to leave because he was causing too many arguments with his girlfriend."
He denied the murder, adding: "I didn't touch him, I didn't lay a finger on him. I left him as I found him and I told him to get out of my house."
The trial continues.
