Sam Mechelewski Murder Trial: Dog walker who found body tells jury he thought someone had fallen asleep

Hinchingbrooke Country Park (Image: Archant)

Eric Jordan was the first witness to give evidence at the trial today (Thursday) and explained how he was walking his dog in the Bob’s Wood part of the park when his dog started acting excited.

He said at that time of year only “hardcore dogwalkers” used Bob’s Wood to walk as it was muddy and slippery.

He told the court that at about 1:30pm on February 1 he drove to Brampton and parked his car with the intention of walking his Labrador.

Mr Jordan said: “My dog Jasper, is a very well behaved dog and is never out of my sight, and when we were walking that day he was very excited and was drawn to the wooded area. My first reaction was I couldn’t quite see why Jasper had stopped. I called him back and he wouldn’t come back, and he always does, which I thought was strange. As I started to approach him I became aware there was something on the floor. I wasn’t sure what it was. I saw feet. I thought it must have been someone who had fell asleep or had fallen.”

Mr Jordan went onto explain how the victim had a hood over his head, but he noticed that there was blood on his lower jawline and his clothing.

Mr Jordan said he did not touch the body, but went and got help from the café in the country park. He was then followed over by two town rangers who called the police.

The court also heard from Kye Liddle who discovered items of clothing that were believed to be Mr Mechelewski’s whilst walking his dog on February 2. Prosecutor Richard Christie asked Mr Liddle if he had known about the body that had been found at the park.

Mr Liddle said when he arrived at the park he saw the blue police tape, but “decided to be a bit nosey” and went round the areas outside the police cordon.

He then went on to explain how his dog Finley ran over to the wooded area, which was 140 metres away from where Mr Mechelewski’s body was found.

Mr Liddle confirmed that he had found a black Nike hat hanging from a branch and a black Tesco F&F bag that was tied at the top with a rip down the side.

Mr Liddle said: “There was clothing inside it. I could only just make out there was something in it. I gently pulled the top out of the bag, expecting to find a weapon, but I didn’t.”

Jordan Shepherd, 23, of Mayfly Close, Chatteris, and Ashley White, 20, of West End, Brampton, have both denied the murder of Mr Mechelewski. Ciara Ratcliffe, 21, of Sycamore Drive, Huntingdon, has denied a charge of perverting the course of justice.

The case continues.