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As it happenedended1549637416

Louella Fletcher-Michie court case: Boyfriend told friend 'if fam asks, say a random gave us 2C-P' as woman was dying from overdose, jurors told

Friend Ezra Campbell and Bestival staff gave evidence at court in Winchester

Adam Lusher
Winchester Crown Court
Friday 08 February 2019 12:17 GMT
Holby City actor John Michie pays tribute to late daughter Louella with mural

Ceon Broughton, the man accused of manslaughter over the death by drug overdose of Louella Fletcher-Michie at a music festival, tried six times to help her on his own before calling an ambulance, Winchester Crown Court has heard.

Mr Broughton, 29 and from Enfield in north London, is on trial and also accused of supplying the Class A drug 2C-P to Ms Fletcher-Michie, who was found dead at Bestival at 1am on 11 September 2017, which should have been her 25th birthday.

The court heard that Mr Broughton filmed Louella as she overdosed at the event in Dorset and subsequently exchanged panicked text messages with a friend, instructing him: “If the fam asks, say a random gave us 2C-P.”

As he took the stand at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, the girl’s father, Holby City actor John Michie, had looked over to the dock and stared hard at his daughter’s boyfriend. He told the court: “Louella loved Ceon. I don’t think he loved her.

“I don’t know how you could ever say you loved someone if you have let them die in front of you.”

Mr Michie wept in the witness stand as he recalled the day of her death and his final phone call with Ms Fletcher-Michie.

He told the jury: “The thing that I most remember was that Louella seemed very distressed. I could hear her in the background shouting things like ‘I hate you, I don’t trust you’, obviously referring to Ceon.

“I’ve never heard her speak in that way. It almost didn’t sound like her.”

Mr Broughton’s voice, on loudspeaker, sounded “watery”, “without energy in it” and he did not seem “compos mentis”, Mr Michie said.

He added: “He didn’t seem to be concerned, I thought. Obviously any normal person would be concerned.”

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Prompted by the judge, Mr Harrington confirms he looked in the area Broughton suggested should be searched.

adam.lusher8 February 2019 13:41
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Mr Harrington agrees when Mr Kamlish refers to Broughton and suggests: "He was pretty desperate to find her, wasn't he?"

Mr Kamlish suggests that Mr Harrington's colleague Ryan eventually left Broughton to search alone without a torch.

Mr Harrington says: "I didn't know that."

Mr Kamlish says Broughton later sent a message saying "These pr***s don't give a f***."

The court heard Mr Harrington was not with Broughton when that message was sent.

Mr Harrington explains he felt he had to get back to his security position because he had broken the rules by leaving it to search for Louella.

He says: "When you are given a place you are not supposed to leave it."

adam.lusher8 February 2019 13:48
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That concludes today's evidence.  The judge tells the jury to return on Monday morning.

adam.lusher8 February 2019 13:49

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