THE jury in the case of a Burnley man accused of murdering a kidnap victim visited the scene of his disappearance yesterday.

The jurors, legal teams and judge Mr Justice Royce travelled to Bacup by coach to familiarise themselves with locations in the case.

Father-of-four Paul Brady, 43, of Rochdale, has not been seen since he was kidnapped by a masked armed gang in Beaufort Road, Weir, Bacup, on August 1, 2009.

Paul Devalda, 35, of Padiham Road, Burnley, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of conspiring to kidnap him and murdering him.

He denies those offences and also an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Alongside him in the dock is Heath Bowling, 38, of High Lane, Stockport, who denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving false details to the DVLA and the police.

Devalda’s girlfriend, Stacia Crossley, 28, also of Padiham Road, has pleaded not guilty to three charges of assisting an offender.

The prosecution has finished its case and Devalda has begun giving his evidence, but this was interrupted by yesterday’s site visit.

He has told the court he was linked to some of the nearby locations because of his drug supply business and not because of any connection with Mr Brady.

(Proceeding)

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