ID of murder accused found with victim - court

An ID card belonging to a man accused of murdering his lodger was found in an animal trailer where the victim's body was dumped, a court has heard.

Christopher Wright, 73, is accused of killing Richard Dyson, 55, before dismembering and concealing his body in a concrete-filled barrel on a neighbour's farm with the help of his friend Karl Schwalbe.

Dyson's remains were discovered at Alderthwaite Farm in Barnsley in July 2025, nearly six years after he was reported missing, alongside an ID badge bearing Wright's name.

Wright, who denies murdering Dyson, said he had not seen the card since 1985, telling jurors at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday he had "no idea" how it could have got there.

Wright said the ID card had been issued as part of his involvement in Worsbrough's community programme, and he thought the badge had been "in the house somewhere possibly".

Wright, of Sheffield Road in Hoyland, also denies preventing a lawful burial, several firearms offences and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

His childhood friend Schwalbe, 72, of Dike Hill in Rotherham, denies perverting the course of justice.

Opening the case last month, prosecutors alleged Wright was a "weapons fanatic" who owned an illegal stash including shotguns, knives, bows and arrows.

They alleged he killed Dyson, who had been "in effect Wright's lodger" and lived on his farm in his car, when Dyson stole one of his machine guns to sell on.

Wright denied this version of events, saying he had no knowledge of the machine gun in question.

The prosecution further alleged that on 20 November 2019, Wright called Ian Ollerenshaw, who lives at neighbouring Alderthwaite Farm, to ask if he could store his old trailer at his farm.

During Tuesday's hearing, Wright denied this, saying he had called Ollerenshaw, who sold Christmas trees at the time, to ask if he could provide a suitable one for the local church.

"He said he'd have a look, but didn't get back to me," Wright told jurors.

The court heard Wright later received a text, which pinged off a tower near Alderthwaite Farm.

"It's suggested by the prosecution it's pinging off Alderthwaite Farm because you went to the farm with the trailer containing Mr Dyson's body," defence barrister David Brooke KC said.

"Did you?"

To which Wright replied, "I did not", adding he had never seen the trailer before.

Wright was also asked about a £26 purchase at Allendale Building Supplies in Hoyland on 19 November 2019.

Prosecutors previously suggested Wright had purchased cement that day, but he told the court he had in fact bought roofing mastic to repair a leak in his shed.

Brooke also questioned Wright about a conversation between him and Schwalbe that was recorded outside a police station after Wright's police interviews in March 2021.

During the exchange, Wright is alleged to have said, "No phone calls, not for a while," to which Schwalbe is said to have replied, "No, I know."

The two friends also discussed meeting up "afterwards" to "have a chinwag".

Schwalbe was also alleged to have said: "I just wish you hadn't phoned me that night."

To which Wright replied: "I know. Wish you hadn't come up. Wish you hadn't come up at all."

Wright told Brooke he did not remember that conversation and denied he had been concerned about anybody listening to his phone calls or that he had anything to hide.

Asked if Schwalbe came to his property on 19 November 2019, he said: "He did not."

The trial continues.

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