Property stolen from a Shropshire “gentle giant” as he lay fighting for his life was found at a second murder scene 10 days later, a jury heard.Neil Williams’s watch was taken from him after he was allegedly strangled by Gabriel Bhengu, 25, and Jabu Mbowane, 26, in Stirchley, Telford, on April 5 last year.
Bhengu and Mbowane, both of Wolverhampton, deny murdering Mr Williams and also deny the murder of Andrew Owen, of Sedgeley, on April 15.
Kashia Allen, 21, also from Wolverhampton, also denies murdering Mr Owen.
The three defendants further deny a string of robberies across the Black Country and also one in Telford.
The body of Mr Williams, 41, who was walking home to Calcott, Stirchley, when he was targeted, was found the following morning on a footpath off Churncote in Stirchley.
Mr Roger Smith QC, prosecuting, yesterday told the jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court that Mr Williams’s Adidas watch, which his mother had bought him, was found at the scene of Mr Owen’s death in Sedgeley.
He alleged one of the men was wearing Mr Williams’s watch when they attacked Mr Owen and it came off during the struggle as the pair strangled and robbed him.
Opening the prosecution case, Mr Smith read out interviews Bhengu and Mbowane gave to detectives following their arrest.
He said Mbowane claimed he was “influenced” by Bhengu to help him rob people. The pair denied any involvement in the two murders in later police interviews.
Mr Smith told the jury Mbowane told police the arrangement was to share the victim’s possessions between them.
The prosecution claimed Bhengu was also seen wearing Mr Williams’s mobile phone around his neck on CCTV as the pair tried to sell Mr Owen’s jewellery.
It was also claimed records showed Allen had used Mr Williams’s Nokia handset, taken out of his pocket as he fought for his life, the day his body was found.
Allen was found with Mr Williams’s mobile phone with her own SIM card in it when she was first arrested. It was later recovered by police from Bhengu.
Mr Smith said Bhengu, Mbowane and Allen also robbed Telford woman, Tracey Paxton, as she walked along the Silkin Way in Telford on March 2 last year.
He said one of the men grabbed Mrs Paxton’s scarf pulling it so tight she lost consciousness.
The trial continues.
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