Danny Spires

Hertfordshire OAP murder: ‘I killed him in self-defence’

Friday, June 8, 2012
4:35 PM

A MAN accused of murder described the moment he grabbed a hammer and struck an OAP in the head, killing him.

The trio’s charges

FORMER WGC man Daniel Davies, 23, now of Alma Road, St Albans, Troy Schuldt, 20, of no fixed abode, and Samantha Smith, 21, of Alma Road, St Albans, all deny the muder of Danny Spires on June 13 or 14 last year.

Smith has admitted two counts of assisting an offender, namely Schuldt, but denies a further two charges of assisting Davies – her ex-boyfriend.

Schuldt has pleaded guilty to obstructing a coroner – a charge both Davies and Smith deny – and perverting the course of justice.

The case continues.

Troy Schuldt struggled to tell the court about how he dragged 69-year-old Danny Spires’ body into the wood, after the attack.

The 20-year-old, who had a string of previous convictions for shoplifting, burglary and handling stolen goods, thought the police would not believe he was acting in self-defence so he panicked and hid the body in the woods, near Brookmans Park in June last year.

The prosecution claim Schuldt, his brother Daniel Davies and Davies’ ex-girlfriend Samantha Smith planned the murder in order to steal £30,000 from Mr Spires’ safe.

The Crown says Schuldt and Davies lured Mr Spires to the woods, strangled him with a rope and “when he wouldn’t die” hit him on the head with a hammer.

Davies said he was not in the woods, while Schuldt claims he killed him in self-defence.

Schuldt told St Albans Crown Court he had argued with Mr Spires a week before and punched him after he insulted Schuldt’s step-mother, sister and girlfriend.

A week later, Mr Spires and Schuldt had parked up on the edge of the woods.

Schudlt told the court he was attacked, while he was looking into the back of the van.

The case continues.

*For more from the murder trial see this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, out now.