'The wrong man is sitting in the dock...'defence make closing speeches as Thomas Campbell murder trial reaches final stages

A lawyer claimed 'the wrong man is in the dock' as defence closing speeches continued at the Thomas Campbell murder trial. Mr Campbell, 38, was allegedly 'tortured to death' in his own home after three men ambushed him at his front door.

His ex-wife, 38-year-old Coleen Campbell, Stephen Cleworth, 38, and Reece Steven, 29, are all on trial accused of murder and conspiring to rob Mr Campbell. The trio have all pleaded not guilty to both charges and the trial at Bolton Crown Court continues.

The alleged 'mastermind' of the attack, 28-year-old John Belfield, is not on trial and is believed to have fled the country. Mr Belfield, an alleged drug dealer, is alleged to have been motivated by 'hostility' to Mr Campbell, a convicted drug dealer, because the deceased was in a relationship with his ex-girlfriend.

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Mr Belfield is alleged to have plotted to rob Mr Campbell of drugs or money. Ms Campbell is said to have provided information about her former husband's movements to Mr Belfield.

She accepted passing on intelligence but maintained she had no desire for her ex to be harmed, and only provided it believing Mr Belfield was trying to discover whether his ex was seeing Mr Campbell. Mr Cleworth has admitted placing a tracking device on Mr Campbell's car days before the killing, which happened on Saturday, July 2 last year.

He said Mr Belfield had told him that Mr Campbell had up to £200,000 worth of drugs or money buried in a field. Mr Cleworth has said he agreed to try and find the 'buried treasure' and steal it, but denied there was any intention to hurt Mr Campbell.

In her closing speech, his barrister, Anesta Weekes KC, claimed