MURDER TRIAL: Man did ‘all he could’ to try and save Derbyshire dad

Witness Glen Thorpe said he did all he could to try and revive Daniel Baker, 32, when he found him collapsed on Mansfield Road, South Normanton, on Friday, July 19 last year.

Leon Lockhart, 32, of Carter Lane East, South Normanton, is accused of Mr Baker’s murder and his trial started yesterday. He denies the charge.

The jury at Nottingham Crown Court heard how Mr Thorpe and his girlfriend Victoria Heath saw Lockhart, his then-girlfriend Michaela Griffiths and Mr Baker walking up Carter Lane West towards Mansfield Road on the evening of July 19.

The court was told Mr Thorpe and Ms Heath broke away from the trio to visit a nearby takeaway. When they found it was shut, they walked back down Mansfield Road and saw Mr Baker’s body lying face down.

Mr Thorpe, of Carter Lane West, South Normanton, said: “I thought it was someone who was drunk.

“I checked his pulse and it was very faint.”

The court was played a 999 tape in which Mr Thorpe can be heard giving CPR to Mr Baker in a desperate bid to revive him.

In the recording, Mr Thorpe said: “Oh my God – he’s covered in blood. He’s got a stab wound.”

After the tape finished, a tearful Mr Thorpe said: “I did all I could.”

Dad Mr Baker, of Derby, was taken to King’s Mill Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died of a stab wound to the heart.

The trial was adjourned until Wednesday morning. It is expected to run until next week.

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