A JURY was reminded yesterday of the bizarre events surrounding the murder of a witchcraft enthusiast whose body was found on moorland above Cornholme last year.

Wiccan follower James Bowman, 44, was brutally bludgeoned to death on September 15 last year two days after he was spurned by his lover, Melanie Payne.

Her son, Daniel Antonious Delker, 24, of Shackleton Road, Kirkham, Preston and his co-accused, David Terance Sandham, 24, of The Croft, Cleveleys, Blackpool, deny murdering him.

But closing the case for the prosecution yesterday, Mr David Hatton QC, told the Leeds Crown Court jury that the evidence proved the guilt of the two defendants.

He said: "His murderers had no right to take that life however high or low you may judge that life to have been and it is a harsh reality that it is your duty, unhappy though it may be, to judge this case calmly, clearly and professionally, without sympathy, fear or favour on that evidence.

"That evidence, we submit, is that the murderers of Mr Bowman are these two defendants in your charge."

He said if the pair did not commit murder, they had suffered a series of ill fated events that put them in the frame.

(Proceeding)