Partner of man kidnapped, tortured and beaten to death in Kilburn gives evidence in court
Carlene Wellington slumped to the floor after entering the witness box at the Old Bailey
The partner of a man who was kidnapped and tortured to death collapsed in tears as she gave evidence against his alleged killers at the Old Bailey.
Ferell Benjamin, 38, was bundled into the boot of his own car by a masked gang and taken to a council-run hostel in Burton Road, Kilburn, on November 14, 2010.
He was then tortured, beaten unconscious and left to die in the toilet, it is claimed.
He had suffered fatal head injuries.
Mother-of-four Carlene Wellington slumped to the floor after entering the witness box to answer questions about the murder.
Ms Wellington, who has two children with Mr Benjamin, told the court at 5pm she received a call at work saying that ‘something had happened’ at her house in Edgware.
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She rushed home to find her children and cousin Tasheika Campbell outside.
She told the court she was surprised because she had not seen Campbell for two years, adding: “I opened the front door and on the settee there was some masking tape and one of my vases was broken.”
They all went to her friend’s house and called the police, the court heard.
It is claimed that Mr Benjamin was murdered by Craig Smith, 23, Tex Crawford, 20, and Samuel Prime-Fearon, 25, who lived in the hostel, because of his ‘secret life’ as a class A drug dealer.
Campbell, 22, is said to have agreed to let the masked gang into the house.
Her boyfriend Mustafa Ali also took part in the attack but has since fled the country, the court has heard.
Smith from Harrow, and Crawford, of no fixed address, both deny conspiracy to rob, kidnap, false imprisonment and murder.
Prime-Fearon denies false imprisonment and murder.
Campbell from Harrow, denies conspiracy to rob and kidnap.
The trial continues.
