Ipswich: Murder accused confessed to killing man, court told

An alcoholic accused of murdering a man in an Ipswich park confessed to the killing within a few hours of the man’s body being found, it has been alleged.

Christopher Wilson was “shaking uncontrollably” when he allegedly revealed he had hit a man and stamped up and down on his head.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court, Big Issue seller Adam Pratt of Austin Street, Ipswich, said Wilson had then said: “I think I’ve killed him.”

“He (Wilson) was very scared and was shaking uncontrollably at times,” said Mr Pratt.

Mr Pratt told the court that he had seen Wilson and his girlfriend Deanna Stanton sitting outside a shop when he took his dog for a walk at around 8am on November 15 last year.

He recognised Wilson and invited him and Stanton into his flat for a hot drink after taking pity on them because they looked cold.

He said that about 20 minutes later Wilson had asked to talk to him in the kitchen and had allegedly confessed to the killing.

He told the court that while Wilson was “a complete mess” his girlfriend had appeared to be “cool, calm and collected.”

Mr Pratt said Stanton revealed that said she had helped Wilson move the body and had felt for a pulse but couldn’t find one.

He said he and his girlfriend had given Wilson and Stanton some clean trousers to wear as Wilson’s jeans were wet and had blood stains on them and Stanton’s leggings had mud on them.

Wilson, 33, and Stanton, 26, both of no fixed address have denied murdering 35-year-old Christopher Thompson on November 15 last year. Wilson has also denied attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The court has heard that in the hours leading up to his death Mr Thompson had been drinking with Wilson, Stanton and another man in Chantry Park.

Benjamin Aina QC, prosecuting, has alleged that Wilson and Stanton hit and punched Mr Thompson and Wilson strangled him.

The trial continues.