Needy Cousin Denies Murdering His Relative In Street

Denies Murder: Jerome Bailey

A needy cousin, who constantly pestered a relative for cash, clothing, food and cannabis, fatally stabbed him as the pair strolled along the street last summer, a court heard yesterday.

Jerome Bailey, 37, plunged a blade into the abdomen of his second cousin Tesfa Campbell, 40, severing two major blood vessels and left him bleeding to death, the jury were told.

He fled the scene with a JD Sports stringed carrier bag and its contents, which Mr. Campbell had been carrying.

Bailey, of Greenock Road, Streatham has pleaded not guilty at Croydon Crown Court to murdering Mr. Campbell in Latchmere Road, Battersea on July 3, last year.

He also denies robbing his cousin of the carrier bag and contents.

The jury were shown CCTV footage of the pair walking near Latchmere Leisure Centre, where Mr. Campbell worked out daily, moments before he was stabbed.

Prosecutor Mr. John Price QC told the court friends and relatives of Mr. Campbell confirmed his relationship with Bailey had become strained in the weeks before he died.

“The two men were second cousins and knew each other very well and Mr. Campbell’s brother says they were close and that he had a ‘soft spot’ for Bailey.

“In the past he had helped him out by lending him money, but lately they had been arguing and Mr. Campbell told friends he was waiting for one final big argument and then he was going to cut him off.

Stabbed To Death: Tesfa Campbell

“Relatives say Mr. Campbell always spoke of Bailey’s money problems and that he would call looking for money, food, clothing and cannabis.

“Mr. Campbell himself said he loved Bailey like a cousin and gave him money, but he always came back for more.”

The pair exchanged phone calls shortly before the stabbing and it was 2.45pm when passers-by saw them in a confrontation.

“Mr. Campbell was stabbed to death. It happened in broad daylight,” said Mr. Price. “The prosecution allege it was this defendant who stabbed Mr. Campbell.

“That killing was an act of murder committed as part of a robbery.”

A passing estate agent dialled 999 and his call was played to the jury. “He’s just been stabbed. I saw the whole thing happen. There’s a lot of blood,” said the witness.

“The killer made off in the aftermath of the stabbing and Mr. Campbell collapsed to the ground at the scene,” explained Mr. Price.

He was rushed to King’s College Hospital, Camberwell, but was pronounced dead at 7.41pm that evening.

Bailey was arrested four days later at a property he was saying at in south-west London and told officers: “What do you mean he’s murdered? How can I be under arrest for my cousin’s murder?

“F***ing hell this is a madness. How the f***ing hell am I a suspect?”

In the rear summer house of the property police found two yellow JD Sports bags like the one Mr. Campbell had, along with evidence of cannabis and an Oyster card the prosecution say Bailey used to travel to the meeting.

Bailey had also shaved off his distinctive top bun hairstyle and the jury was told he may admit during the trial he was at the scene when Mr. Campbell pulled a knife on him.

“It may be suggested the knife that stabbed and killed Mr. Campbell was his own and he had introduced it into the confrontation,” explained the QC.

“However the witnesses are at one in their recollection it was not the man who collapsed that had the knife, but the other man who was the aggressor.”

Trial continues…………