A woman accused of covering up the murder of a drug dealer wrote to an accomplice urging him to confess to the crime, a court was told.

Linda Rosenberg later changed her story to say “Scousers” were responsible for the death of Liverpudlian Gary Hampson – whose body has never been found.

As the murder trial went into its second day, Hove Crown Court also heard evidence from another woman, Hampson’s former partner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, describing how she tried to find him after he failed to turn up to collect their daughter.

Mr Hampson, originally from Liverpool, ran Kop Cars garage in Little Western Street, Brighton, with Daniel Alexander.

On Wednesday (October 31)  the court was told the firm was a front for drug-dealing.

Alexander, 62, of no fixed abode, is accused of murdering him in January 2011, then perverting the course of justice by dumping his body with Roy Bartup, 58, of Natal Road, Brighton, and Alan Topping, 49, of no fixed abode.

Rosenberg, Alexander’s girlfriend, of Montpelier Road, Brighton, is accused of trying to pervert the course of justice by convincing Bartup to confess.

Dumped body

The defendants have denied all charges.

Alexander is accused of killing Mr Hampson, then driving his body out of the city and dumping it with help from Bartup and Topping.

When Rosenberg’s home was searched it contained a letter from a woman claiming Bartup had told her he was the murderer. Later, Rosenberg changed her story to say that “Scousers” were responsible for the death of the Liverpudlian dealer.

Philip Bennets QC, prosecuting, said: “The Scousers being responsible for Mr Hampson’s death is something that may well play a part in the course of this trial.”

Mr Hampson’s former partner also gave evidence from behind a screen, saying that she had last seen him when he dropped off their daughter at her home on January 6. He then failed to turn up to collect her on January 8.

She said when she asked Alexander where he was, he said he had gone to Liverpool, and people from Liverpool had been calling saying he owed them money.

Under cross-examination from Sam Stein QC, defending Alexander, his ex-partner confirmed she believed he was nicknamed “Hammer” because he used a hammer when he fought.

She said he had been to prison before, but said she did not know his conviction was for heroin dealing. She said he hid cash around the house.

The trial continues.

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