Joss Stone Murder Plot Trial Begins, Two Men Accused But Deny Charges

The trial of two men accused of plotting to murder Brit singer Joss Stone began today.

Junior Bradshaw, 31, and Kevin Liverpool, 34, both deny conspiracy to murder, rob and cause grievous bodily harm to the 25-year-old singer/actress.

Both men hail from St. Stephens Close, Manchester, and were arrested in June 2011 in Cullompton, Devon, after they were seen driving round the village of Langford, a few miles from Stone’s home.

Stone, 25, a Brit award-winning artist burst onto the music world stage in 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album The Soul Sessions, is best known for hits including “Super Duper Love” and “Fell In Love With A Boy.”

Prosecutor Simon Morgan told the jury of 10 men and two women at Exeter Crown Court: “This case is about a decision by a group of individuals, of which these defendants are two, to rob and kill Joss Stone.

He added: “Your job will be to determine whether you think these two are part of a plot.”

Referring to Stone in court by her real name, Jocelyn Eve Stoker, Morgan said the murder plot conspiracy took place between January to June 2011, defining conspiracy as “an agreement to carry out a course of conduct.”

“The offence is committed as soon as the agreement is reached. In this case these defendants did do something. They got a car, they collected their weapons of choice, and they made their way from Manchester to a short distance from Joss Stone’s house.”

The court also heard that the singer was at home at the time of the incident. As mentioned earlier Bradshaw and Liverpool were picked up by police after they were reported by other residents in Collompton.

The trial is expected to last up to three weeks, but Stone is not expected to be in court during the proceedings.