Fiance gives evidence at trial
The fiance of tragic Stephanie Hammill today told of the moment his girlfriend was taken away by what he thought was a taxi.
James Garland, 26, was giving evidence at the trial of Ioannis Revenikiotis, who is accused of kidnapping and killing Miss Hammill in November 2003.
Mr Garland and his travel agent fiancee, of Lincoln Street, Wakefield, were walking home on November 29 after a night out in Wakefield. Miss Hammill flagged down what they believed to be a taxi on Balne Lane and partially got in.
Initially Mr Garland, who took the stand at Sheffield Crown Court today (Tuesday), thought the taxi driver hadn't seen him walking behind Miss Hammill or was playing a joke by driving off.
But as Mr Garland gathered speed so did the car and it drove off down Balne Lane with Miss Hammill's leg still dangling out of the vehicle.
After the car went out of site, Mr Garland realised 'there was something wrong' and started to run after the car.
The warehouse worker tried to ring her mobile phone but couldn't get through. He saw a passing police van and ran into the road to flag it down but failed.
However, he caught up with police in Elder Green.
Mr Garland said: "I ran up to the police van and knocked on the back of it. I was crying and I was in a bit of a state and trying to explain to the female police officer in the back what had happened. She was trying to calm me down."
Mr Garland added: "I believe they (the police) got a call on the radio about something that had happened in Batley Road. I can remember hearing that."
The trial has heard that Miss Hammill, who worked for the Co-Op Travel Agency in Wakefield, either jumped or fell from Revenikiotis's Mercedes because she feared she was about to be sexually assaulted. She fell into the path of an on-coming taxi and died almost instantly.
Greek national Revenikiotis, 29, formerly of School Crescent, Dewsbury, denies both charges.
The trial continues tomorrow when Mr Garland's cross-examination resumes.
For more on this story please check this website on Wednesday and see Friday's Express.
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Weather for Wakefield
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
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