In this second, concluding part, EWN journalist Benny Davis investigates the story behind the headlines of a vicious murder including an exclusive interview with the wife of one of the two British men convicted and jailed for murder.

Case history:
In June 2006, British men Lindsay Frampton Slade and Adrian Marshall were arrested on suspicion of murdering Colyn Roy Nobes in Gata. Four years later, they were found guilty and sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. Marshall’s fiancée Bridget Stokes and alleged accomplice was jailed for 21 months. Slade and Marshall immediately filed a Supreme Court appeal – they are still awaiting a hearing.

Part two: Awakening the dead

LAST week we revealed that victim Colyn Nobes was a known criminal wanted in several countries for drug running and associated crimes, whereas neither of the two men jailed for his murder had police records.

Also, Bridget Stokes when released from jail in 2008 claimed in a UK newspaper they had been convicted by a kangaroo court and not allowed to list any witnesses for their defence.

In an attempt to understand the story behind the headlines, we arranged an exclusive interview with Lindsay Frampton Slade’s wife Rita, who explained her version of the events leading up her husband’s arrest.

She told how Nobes, who they had only previously known as a car mechanic, had threatened them with violence after being discovered squatting in their mobile home. Eventually evicted by the police, he returned and stole their Range Rover smashing his way through locked gates.

Nobes was eventually arrested and charged, but inexplicably left court a free man leaving Rita and her husband, “In fear of our lives.”

“It was like one of those scary movies,” Rita said, “I saw Nobes in every shadow and awoke to every noise during the nights expecting to see him bending over me with a knife.”

Nobes did not return and the Slades eventually returned to their normal life – albeit short lived.

In May 2006, while they were visiting their daughter, Nobes former partner Adrian Marshall, phoned asking for help to remove Nobes who they were told, was found squatting in a house Marshall and his wife were looking after for a client.

The family immediately advised Lindsay to stay away and inform the police, but he reluctantly agreed to help, dropping Rita at their home on his way.

When Lindsay returned later that evening, she described him as being, “Very quiet and almost in a state of shock,” and added that after a few drinks, he went to bed.

“I thought there had been a mild punch-up and decided to let sleeping dogs lie.” The incident was not mentioned again.

Six weeks later, two plain-clothes police officers appeared at their home, requesting Lindsay answer a few questions at the police station.

Rita explained,” We were just getting ready to go out for the evening, so Lindsay quietly suggested I meet our friends as agreed and that he would join me later.”

That was the last contact Lindsay Frampton Slade had with the outside world for five days. “He virtually disappeared off the planet.”

With the police denying all knowledge of his whereabouts, the family considered listing him as a missing person, suspected of being abducted by friends of Nobes. But after further extensive enquiries, they eventually discovered he was being held in Fontcalent jail Alicante, on suspicion of the murder of Colyn Nobes whose rotting corpse had been discovered under a motorway bridge.

Later, Lindsey told Rita he had admitted to being an accomplice, but denied the actual murder.

His version of events was that on the fateful night, Nobes refused to leave the German house and became extremely violent threatening to kill both Lindsey and Adrian with a knife.

After a bloody fight, Nobes was knocked unconscious and leaving Marshall’s Wife Bridgett to clean up, they bundled the unconscious Nobes into the back of Lindsey’s estate car with the intention of leaving him in an isolated country area.

But during the journey, Lindsay claims he was suddenly jerked back in the seat by a pair of bloody hands trying to strangle him from behind.

Panic stricken he managed to free himself, swerve the car to a stop on the roadside and escape into the surrounding countryside. When he eventually came to his senses and returned to the car he was told by Marshall that Nobes was dead.

In desperation, he and Marshall, allegedly dumped the body and fled.

Since the arrest five years ago, the Slades have lost their home; business and most of their possessions, but not their belief in each other.

“Lindsay is a kind and loving husband, father and grandfather. He is not a criminal, but admits he has been incredibly stupid and must be punished for his part in this horrendous crime – but he is not a murderer.

“At first,” Rita told us, “Visiting Alicante prison was very difficult with prison staff unhelpful and unfriendly, totally ignoring our limited attempts at speaking Spanish.

“We were refused visitation many times although we had booked appointments and on one occasion, I was strip searched because they said my hands had tested positive for residue of explosives and drugs.”

During the first year in prison, their three month old granddaughter suffered cot death. Lindsay, shadowed by two warders, was given leave to attend the funeral but not allowed any contact with his family. After the funeral, he was given time to pray over the dead body of his granddaughter – he later told Rita that even his armed guard had difficulty in holding back their tears.

Since the conviction, Lindsay Frampton Slade and Adrian Marshall have been moved to Vellina prison inland from Alicante city.

Rita and Lindsey recently celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary with a prison visit. At the date of publication, they are still waiting for news of the appeal.

Read part one here: Javea Murder Story: The Scary Squatter