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 The BBC's Richard Bilton"Mr Roberts had been questioned a number of times"  real 28k |
Shopkeeper 'strangled streetwise schoolboy'
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A 12-year-old boy was strangled to death by a shopkeeper with whom he was sexually involved, a court has heard on the first day of his murder trial.
Thomas Marshall went missing last August from his home in Happisburgh, Norfolk, after leaving on his bicycle and saying he was going to see a friend, Norwich Crown Court was told.
His body was found 50 miles away in a picnic area near Thetford, Norfolk, 24 hours later.
Kevan Roberts, 52, who ran a general store in nearby Eccles at the time of Thomas's death, denies killing the boy.
Charles Wide QC, prosecuting, told the jury of eight men and four women Thomas got to know the shopkeeper a couple of months before his death.
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Mr Wide said: "During the summer of 1997 Thomas went to the shop and something of a sexual nature happened between Mr Roberts and Thomas.
"Precisely what, the prosecution cannot say. Only two people were present and one of them is dead.
"You may however come to the conclusion that Thomas was street-wise enough to try to exploit the situation but not so mature as to realise what he might be getting himself into."
The shopkeper told detectives he had tried to discourage the boys from visiting but at times felt he was "losing control".
Mr Wide said Thomas was probably dead within about three hours of leaving home, and the prosecution claims Mr Roberts strangled the youngster.
The boy was wearing a "bootlace-type necklace" when his body was found, Mr Wide said.
Thomas Marshall: His body was found 50 miles from his home |
Mr Wide said two beads on Thomas's necklace were found to be missing.
A police officer found a bead similar to the missing beads in a sink trap underneath Mr Roberts's sink 13 months after Thomas went missing.
Mr Wide said the bead was one which "fell off when the necklace was broken in the act of strangulation". The shopkeeper was unable to explain the presence of the bead.
The prosecutor added: "During the course of the inquiry Mr Roberts was open with the police about being a homosexual who was attracted to adolescent boys.
"But he also said that he never had a relationship with such a boy."
'Taking over his life'
While on remand awaiting trial Mr Roberts told prisoner Roy Reynolds about his involvement with Thomas, the court heard.
He said he hated Thomas because the youngster was taking over his life and having it "both ways", Mr Wide told the jury.
"Mr Roberts told Mr Reynolds he came very close to admitting murder - indicating with his thumb and forefinger a very small gap," he said.
The shopkeeper told his cousin Peter Roberts, with whom he was having a relationship, not to visit him on the evening of Thomas's disappearance because he would not be in, Mr Wide said.
But when Peter called at 8pm, Mr Roberts picked up the telephone, and when a policeman called at the shop at 3am looking for Thomas, the shopkeeper was "wide awake" with his hair neatly combed.
The case continues.
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