Two jailed for life over Facebook 'drugs' murder

David Large, 35, and Simon Mullen, 39, were found guilty of murdering Large's gay lover Christopher Hartley after an eight-week trial at Bradford Crown Court.

The court heard Large paid Mullen thousands of pounds to carry out the killing after beginning a relationship with a woman he met on Facebook.

Mr Hartley, a manufacturer of illegal drugs, was shot dead by Mullen in an isolated lay-by, on Litherop Lane, near Clayton West, West Yorkshire, after being lured there under the guise of a drugs deal.

Large, of Rona Croft, Rothwell, Leeds, and Mullen, of Farding Square, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, were each jailed for life today.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Chris Thompson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "David Large was a man steeped in crime who lived an opulent lifestyle, owning fast cars and large houses both at home and abroad, all of which were funded through fraud and drugs.

"When he wanted to split from his partner and lover of 15 years, Large carefully planned with Simon Mullen to lure Christopher Hartley to a secluded spot in Huddersfield where he was shot through the head at point-blank range in what was a pre-meditated, cold-blooded and merciless killing.

"Following the killing, Large and Mullen concocted a complex alibi deliberately attempting to mislead the police that this was a drugs deal gone wrong.

"However, under investigation, this alibi unravelled to reveal the extent of their lies and deception.

"Large and Mullen are fantasists and believed that they had committed the perfect crime. Like others before them, they now face the consequences of their actions."

The trial heard that Large and Mr Hartley, of Batley Road, Tingley, West Yorkshire, had been in an intimate relationship for 15 years.

When Mr Hartley found out about Large's new relationship, with a woman named Dawn Mallinson, he smashed the window of his lover's Mercedes car and made threatening phone calls to his girlfriend.

The court heard that Large and Mullen had a coded conversation on the social networking website, Facebook, in which they referred to a gun and bullets.

On September 8, the day of the murder, Large was in London but arrived at Ms Mallinson's home in the early hours of the following morning and told her: "It's done".

Large brought a bag to Ms Mallinson's home, which he said contained 100,000.

He took some of the money to Mullen, who later spent 25,000 on items including electrical goods, furniture and vehicles.