THE Carlisle hospital security guard on trial for murder told a “blatant lie” when he said Annan man Paul Taylor died during a robbery that went wrong, a jury heard.

At the city’s crown court, prosecutor David McLachlan KC today began his closing speech, setting out what he says are the reasons to convict Crawley of murder and attempted murder.

Crawley, 20, (pictured) denies murdering 56-year-old Mr Taylor on October 18 last year and the attempted murder of another man in York on January 5.

The defendant also denies intentionally causing the man in York grievous bodily harm – a less serious alternative charge to the attempted murder.

Marcus Goodfellow, also 20, denies helping Crawley to dispose of Mr Taylor’s Vauxhall Corsa while knowing his co-defendant had killed its owner.

Beginning his speech, Mr McLachlan told the jury: “Hopefully, you will now know what this case is all about. I anticipate it will live with you for the rest of your days. It’s important to all parties.

“It’s important to Jack Crawley; it’s important to Marcus Goodfellow; and it is also important to the family of Paul Taylor and [the man in York] because this is a case about real people and real events.

“You are the jury in a murder trial in relation to Carlisle and an attempted murder trial in relation to York; you will appreciate that it does not get any more real than that. My views don’t matter in this case.

“What matters in this case are your views.”

(Image: Cumbria Police photo) Mr McLachlan again emphasised the reality of the events before the court, saying this was not a mini Netflix series about a serial killer such as Jeffrey Daher killing gay men, or something based on a video game such as Grant Theft Auto.

“It’s about real people and how lives can be destroyed and turned upside down by the actions of others; and it’s also about the secrets people sometimes have in their private lives, which have been aired in this case.”

Mr McLachlan reminded the jury that on May 2 Crawley had “belatedly” entered a guilty plea to the allegation of manslaughter. The defendant said he had been trying to rob Mr Taylor of his car when it “all went tragically wrong.”

“The prosecution don’t accept this for one second,” said Mr McLachlan.

“We submit that is a blatant lie. This was a case of premeditated murder, and that Jack Crawley had murder on his mind.

“He carried out that plan by killing Paul Taylor and then tried to burn the body of Paul Taylor before putting it into a hollow in Finglandrigg Wood.”

Crawley, said the prosecutor, had given evidence which invited the jury to suspend reality ignore common sense as he tried to “get away with murder.”

Mr McLachlan reminded the jury that Crawley was arrested on suspicion of Mr Taylor’s murder on November 15 last year but then, two days later, released on police bail.

There was evidence of him then going to Penrith.

He went there wearing a Harry Potter “Hagrid” style false beard and using a “fake European accent.” He travelled to Glasgow, Aberdeen, and then York, claiming that he acted on the instructions of a criminal gang.

“That’s complete and utter nonsense, say the prosecution,” continued Mr McLachlan. “You will decide whether that is the case.”

The barrister said Crawley was attempting to evade justice. “You know what he got up to when he landed in York and January 4,” continued Mr McLachlan.

“What was his first job? It was a trip to Toolstation to purchase an item there, and in almost a carbon copy of  the circumstances in Carlisle, the next day, on January 5, Jack Crawley agreed to meet [a man] via Grindr.”

That older gay man had a car and went with Crawley to a remote location to engage in sexual activity with the defendant, and during this Crawley struck the man with a hammer, claiming he acted in self-defence.

He claimed the man had threatened him with a knife. “The prosecution do not accept this,” said Mr McLachlan.

“We say this was a premeditated attempt to kill, just as happened in Carlisle months before.” Mr McLachlan said what happened in York, with both men being struck with a hammer, could not be a coincidence.

The trial resumes this afternoon.

Crawley remains remanded in custody while Goodfellow, of Greystone Road, Carlisle, has remained on bail.