A special podcast revealing how Thomas Campbell was brutally murdered in his own home has been released. The Manchester Evening News has produced a one-off episode telling the story of how the dad-of-two was 'tortured to death' after being ambushed when he went to open his front door.
The podcast features a conversation between M.E.N. court reporter Andrew Bardsley, who covered every day of the crown court trial, and podcast editor Daniel McLaughlin. Thomas was attacked during a two hour ordeal at his home in Mossley, Tameside, after being pounced on by three men.
He was dragged into home before being stabbed, strangled and beaten up, and had boiling water poured on his genitals. Three people, including Thomas's ex-wife Coleen Campbell, went on trial accused of murder and conspiring to rob Thomas, who was a convicted drug dealer.
Reece Steven, 29, one of the three men who attacked Thomas on July 2 last year, was convicted of murder following a trial which began in January. After the five week case, he was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 37 years.
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Coleen Campbell, 38, was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter, after she provided information to her former spouse's killers about his whereabouts. She was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
A third man, Stephen Cleworth, 38, who was involved in preparations prior to the killing, was also acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter. He was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 12 years.
The trio were also found guilty of conspiring to rob Thomas. The alleged mastermind of the attack, 28-year-old John Belfield, was not on trial and is wanted by police on suspicion of murder.
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