Sycamore Gap trial live: Suspect Daniel Graham claims he was ‘asked to take blame’ for felling tree

Daniel Graham agreed with prosecutor Richard Wright KC that Adam Carruthers had a “fascination” with and “unusual curiosity” within the Sycamore Hole tree, Newcastle Crown Court docket heard.

Mr Wright mentioned: “He talked about it within the sense of it might be trophy.” Graham replied: “I suppose so, yeah.”

Graham mentioned he knew nothing in regards to the tree till Carruthers advised him about it in 2021.

Mr Wright requested if that was a lie, as he had reported a automobile being stolen from the Metal Rigg automobile park – utilized by guests to Sycamore Hole – in 2020.

Graham mentioned: “Simply because I do know in regards to the automobile park doesn’t imply I do know in regards to the tree.”

Requested if he had watched the movie that includes the tree, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, he replied: “I’ve watched Robin Hood nevertheless it doesn’t imply I do know the place that tree is.

“The primary time this legendary tree was talked about to me was in 2021. I wasn’t serious about it. I reduce bushes down, I don’t acquire them.”

Being cross-examined by prosecutor Richard Wright KC, Daniel Graham agreed it was Adam Carruthers that reduce down the Sycamore Hole tree however denied being the “second man within the workforce”.

Mr Wright mentioned: “The rationale it was your automobile and your cellphone and your yard (the place the image of the chainsaw and wedge of tree trunk was taken) was since you had been celebration to that plan.”

Graham mentioned: “It was my yard as a result of my automobile was being returned to my yard.”

Mr Wright mentioned a storm on the night time the tree was reduce down meant the tree was blowing from south to north and “if somebody was in search of an evening to chop down the Sycamore Hole tree, that may be night time to do it as a result of the wind blowing that manner makes it simpler”.

Daniel Graham mentioned his account had not modified however mentioned he wished he had named co-accused Adam Carruthers from the beginning.

Talking in regards to the cross-examination by Andrew Gurney, for Carruthers, Graham mentioned: “I don’t really feel like he’s asking questions, he’s wanting an argument.”

Daniel Graham described going to go to Adam Carruthers, and as he normally did, he introduced him a milkshake.

However after that gesture, he advised him they had been now not associates and “I’m going my manner and he’ll go his manner”.

He added: “That’s the final time I spoke to Adam.”

Mr Gurney mentioned Graham’s assertion that Carruthers and a good friend had tried to get him to take the blame as he could be handled leniently owing to his psychological well being points “didn’t occur”. Graham mentioned there have been two conversations to that finish, one among which his associate overheard on the cellphone.

Mr Gurney claimed it was a “work of fiction” to recommend Graham had gone to mattress on the night time the tree was felled, and that another person used his automobile and cellphone. Graham mentioned he was in mattress that night time as he was drained having labored at a caravan website in Silloth throughout the day.

Mr Gurney advised the account about Carruthers having a bit of string to measure the circumference of the tree was a fabrication.

Graham replied: “It appears to me that (you say) all the pieces that comes out of my mouth is a fabrication. I do know it occurred.”

Daniel Graham, cross-examined by Andrew Gurney for Adam Carruthers at Newcastle Crown Court docket, denied making his account match the proof.

He mentioned the pair had been associates for 3 years and that they cut up the money they constituted of felling bushes 50-50.

Mr Gurney requested at what level did Graham determine to “activate” his good friend.

Graham replied: “When my enterprise began to undergo, once I needed to take my title off the wagons, take my title off the equipment, as a result of I couldn’t go away my automobiles by the roadside.”

Requested about saying he didn’t need to be a “grass” in his police interview, Daniel Graham mentioned: “I didn’t suppose I used to be going to need to get to the stage the place I used to be going to need to say [Adam Carruthers’] title. I didn’t need to do it.”

He confirmed he was the one who referred to as police anonymously final yr to call Carruthers as being liable for the tree felling and claiming to know the place the chainsaw used and the wedge from the trunk had been being hidden.

He mentioned: “Nothing had been completed. If the farm had been searched appropriately, even months after, then the proof would have been discovered.”

Graham mentioned he had not seen the noticed or the wedge, however that Carruthers had advised him the place they had been.

He advised the courtroom: “It’s my title on a regular basis, my title earlier than Adam’s. It was at all times my title related to it first.

“My title is related to my enterprise and I began to have individuals phoning my enterprise giving me abuse in regards to the tree.”

Daniel Graham advised the courtroom he was not legally represented when he was first interviewed by police, explaining: “I didn’t imagine I wanted one.”

Requested by Chris Knox, defending, why he felt like that, Graham replied: “I haven’t completed owt mistaken.”

In his first interview he denied figuring out what had occurred that night time and he defined to the courtroom he didn’t say extra, telling jurors: “On the time he (Adam Carruthers) was me pal.”

He advised the courtroom that in a gathering with Detective Inspector Calum Meikle he confirmed him images of Carruthers holding two owls, with chainsaws within the background.

Graham mentioned he did that to indicate to the police that “they hadn’t completed their job correctly”.

He added: “They hadn’t searched the farm appropriate.”

Daniel Graham mentioned Adam Carruthers and a good friend referred to as Lindsay Dalgleish got here to his house and stood on his driveway.

Requested what they mentioned, Graham mentioned: “If it will get on prime, would I take the blame as a result of I’ve psychological well being points. Apparently they’d be extra lenient with me.”

Graham mentioned he was not eager to take the blame and mentioned no.

Chris Knox, defending, requested: “What was their response?”

Graham replied: “They tried to goad us on (saying) ‘Nowt will occur to you, you’re going to get away with it’.”

He mentioned the tone was critical, not jokey. He mentioned the dialog occurred after the pair had been launched and interviewed by police.

The trial broke for lunch.

Chris Knox, defending, mentioned clearly two individuals had been concerned on the night time – one particular person chopping down the tree and one filming.

Graham mentioned he didn’t focus on with Carruthers who the opposite particular person was.

“Adam felled the tree, I don’t know 100% who the opposite particular person was,” Graham mentioned from the witness field.

Daniel Graham mentioned co-accused Adam Carruthers had spoken of wanting to chop down the tree.

“He talked about it,” he advised the courtroom. “He talked about a number of issues, I didn’t take it critically.”

Graham mentioned he remembered Carruthers ordering an enormous bar chainsaw and saying it was large enough to cowl the circumference of the Sycamore Hole tree.