Man accused of helping Gosport murderer after cocaine robbery told police: “I would not cover up anything.”

Levi Kent, 22, was repeatedly stabbed by Tommy West, 18, when he was lured to shops behind Nobes Avenue after 2am on November 24 having refused to defer payment on a deal. 

The victim was knifed in his Vauxhall Corsa before attempting to escape and crashing his car into a wall and garages. Levi was then chased into Keyes Road before he was set upon again.

Tommy West, of Fisgard Road, Gosport, has admitted murder, robbery and possession of a blade. His half-brother Aiden West, 24, of Tudor Close, Gosport, denies murder and possession of a blade but admits robbery.

Peter West, 42, of Fisgard Road, and Michael Figgins, 64, of St Ann's Crescent, are also on trial, with each charged with two counts of assisting an offender.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Peter West - the step-dad of Aiden West - handed his biological son Tommy West into police following Levi’s murder. The court was told how Peter West arranged for his step-dad Figgins to pick him up in his car before they collected the West brothers near Gosport marina around 1.30pm on November 24. 

However, Tommy West was not delivered to Portsmouth’s Eastern police station until around 5pm as officers hunted the brothers. During that period a red coat, thought to have been worn by Tommy West during the killing, was removed and left at best friend Rowan Ballard’s house.

Under questioning from detectives, Figgins recalled how Tommy West insisted on saying his goodbyes to Mr Ballard, his step-sister and his dog en route to the police station before also getting a caramel coffee from McDonald’s. 

Speaking of when he picked up the three West men, Figgins told officers: “When I picked Peter up he said someone had died. Peter was saying in the car the best thing (for Tommy West) is for him to hand himself in. I couldn’t believe Tommy was responsible. He’s such a good kid when he stays with us.”

When Figgins was accused of helping Tommy West, he said: “I haven’t assisted an offender. I’ve assisted the police by picking him up and handing him in.”

He added: “I would not cover up anything for Tommy or anyone else. I have no part in this. I wish Peter had his own car and I wouldn’t be involved in this.”

Figgins went on to say if they did not make the stop-offs Tommy West insisted on then he “would have done a runner”, adding: “He has a hatred and fear of the police. If he had seen the police coming he would have legged it 100 per cent.”

Asked why Tommy West was no longer wearing a red coat after the visit to Mr Ballard’s house, Figgins said “I’ve got nothing to hide” before adding: “I swear to god I have no idea where any red coat is.”

When an officer said Tommy West was in Mr Ballard’s address for 85 minutes, Figgins suggested police were “wrong with timings” - despite there being three different cameras nearby. “Are you sure you didn’t leave Tommy?” a detective then asked. “No,” replied Figgins before adding: “There’s got to be something wrong with the timings. I wouldn’t hang around.”

The detective said the red coat was subsequently found by police at Mr Ballard’s house before saying: “You are here because Tommy had an hour and a half at (Mr Ballard’s) house when he was not taken to the police station and not placated.” Quizzed on if there was any discussion about Tommy West leaving anything at the house, Figgins said: “Absolutely not.”

Figgins said he had “done nothing wrong” before he added: “I wouldn’t assist an offender. I’ve done nothing but help this family for years.”

Other people in the case include the brothers’ mother Joanne West, 45, of no fixed address, who has admitted two counts of assisting an offender. Liam Savage, 37, of Trinity Green in Gosport, has also admitted two counts of assisting an offender.

Sarah Flynn, 36, of James Close in Gosport, was charged with two counts of assisting an offender. 

(Proceeding)