Thursday, 15 November 2007, 16:59 GMT
Man 'never got over' fatal crash

A man whose girlfriend was murdered in an alleged revenge attack has told the court how he tried to rescue her from their burning house.

Lucy Hargreaves, 22, was shot and set on fire as she lay on her couch at her home in Walton in Liverpool in 2005.

The prosecution claim this was after Gary Campbell was a passenger in a stolen car which crashed and killed the four-year-old brother of a defendant.

Two men deny murder charges at Liverpool Crown Court.

Kirk Bradley, 21, and Anthony Downes, 20, from Huyton-with-Roby, deny murder.

A third defendant, Adam McNally, 18, of Norris Green, Liverpool, denies stealing a getaway car.

Mr Campbell, 30, told the court of the crash which left four-year-old Kevin Downes dead.

'Stayed around'

He said: "I never got over it. I always think about it. It never went away. People always mentioned it.

"I was the only one who stayed around (Liverpool)."

The court heard that Mr Campbell stole a car along with two other teenage boys on August 16, 1993, which crashed into and killed the four-year-old.

After the death, Mr Campbell, who said he was not driving the car at the time, was given a supervision order, the court heard.

I heard Lucy scream then where is he? Where is he?'
Gary Campbell, victim's boyfriend

Mr Campbell went on to tell the court how he escaped the blaze with his baby daughter Faye, now aged three.

He told the court: "I was just lying in bed. Lucy couldn't sleep so she went downstairs. I heard a big bang then [someone say] 'Police, police'. I heard Lucy scream then 'Where is he? Where is he?'.

"Then the next moment flames are coming up the stairs."

"Then Faye woke up. I grabbed Faye. My back was burning. I went to the window and I had to kick the window in. I just jumped out of the window with her."

Mr Campbell took Faye, who was not hurt, to a neighbour then went back into the burning house to try to rescue his partner of six-and-a-half years.

He said: "I smashed the window, went in and got her off the couch and dragged her out. My head was everywhere."

His two other children, who are now aged seven and five, were on holiday with Lucy's mother at the time of the attack.

The case continues