Adopted son hatched plot to kill

A 24-year-old man hatched a conspiracy to kill his parents with a friend he met on the internet, a jury was told.

Christopher Monks, of Chorley, Lancashire, wanted his adoptive parents dead because they were over-protective, Dennis Watson QC, prosecuting said.

It is alleged he conspired with Shaun Skarnes, 19, of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, via internet messages to kill the couple at their home in Lancashire.

Both have denied conspiracy to commit murder at Preston Crown Court.

Mr Watson said: "Monks did not feel able to kill them himself and needed someone else to do it for him."

The defendants agreed via internet messages for Shaun Skarnes to come to the home of his parents, Christopher and Elizabeth Monks, in Clayton-le-Woods on 7 February while they were out shopping.

When the couple returned they saw the pair playing computer games.

'Very protective'

They were unaware their son had shown his accomplice around the house in preparation to kill them, the court heard.

Mr Watson said Mr Skarnes pretended to leave but waited nearby and returned after the couple had gone to bed.

"Monks then let Skarnes back in and provided him with a knife. Rolls of duct tape had been prepared to use as gags," Mr Watson said.

"The plan was first to kill Mr Monks upstairs and then Mrs Monks, who slept downstairs. It was a plan which was interrupted when Mr Monks woke up."

A struggle ensued and Mrs Monks raised the alarm.

She then went upstairs and hit Mr Skarnes with a stick, but she eventually managed to calm him down as she reasoned and talked to him, Mr Watson said.

The jury was told their son sat in his room throughout the incident.

Police arrived shortly after and arrested Mr Skarnes.

The court was told Mr Monks faced "various challenges" in life because of his dyslexia and his parents had been very protective of him.

The trial continues.