A made-up cover story about a third-party intruder being involved in a murder in Andover delayed the ambulance from arriving at the scene, a court heard.
As previously reported, Justin Griffith, 42, is on trial, charged with the murder of Sean Ember, 35, in Arcaro Road, Andover, on November 29 last year.
On Day 19 of the trial, Winchester Crown Court heard how the fabricated story of a third-party intruder being the one who murdered Mr Ember meant that the ambulance was not able to go directly to the address.
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Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Howard Broadribb gave evidence in court and was questioned by the defence, Andrew Bird KC, about why certain lines of inquiry were not pursued.
During the trial, a statement from Katie Hutchings was read to the court which detailed that Sean Ember asked her to send money to an account with the name Ben King. The account actually belonged to key witness Fynn Richardson, whom Justin Griffith alleges is the true culprit.
Mr Bird asked DI Broadribb: "Were you aware that someone called Katie Hutchings was given information for Fynn Richardson under the name Ben King or Ben Weed?"
DI Broadribb replied: "No."
Mr Bird asked: "Are you the ultimate decision maker?"
DI Broadribb responded: "As an SIO, that means I have the final decision, but it doesn't mean I am an expert.
"What is a reasonable line of inquiry is what is relevant to the investigation. My parameters were from the day they met to the day of the murder."
He then continued, stating that the story previously reported to have been fabricated by Justin Griffith about an alleged third-party intruder, delayed medical help being supplied to Mr Ember.
He said: "We were led down a rabbit warren for a long time."
Mr Bird then responded: "A long time?"
DI Broadribb said that the 'Golden Hour' of the investigation was disrupted because of it: "Yes.
"That story about the third party actually stopped the ambulance from going directly to the address."
Mr Bird then said: "Fynn Richardson had not implicated Justin Griffith during the golden hour had he?
"Fynn Richardson didn't implicate him when they were both arrested.
"Or in the urgent interview.
"It was only when he was with Mr Akeel Kahn that he implicated Mr Griffith.
"Mr Griffith later implicates him back, but by that time you already made your decision?"
DI Broadribb said: "Yes."
Mr Bird then began to question DI Broadbent about reasonable lines of inquiry and the fact that Griffith's phone had been looked into, going back to 2023, but Mr Richardson's had not.
In response, DI Broadribb said: "He's not a suspect."
Mr Bird then asked DI Broadribb to confirm if bank accounts, videos of gold bars and money, a knife and a gang in Southampton were not reasonable lines of inquiry."
DI Broadribb replied: "Correct."
DI Broadribb confirmed that Fynn Richardson is still under investigation by another policing team regarding his admission to being involved in the supply of drugs.
When asked by Mr Bird about this and the fact he had sent money to a prisoner, and whether it would affect his credibility as a witness, DI Broadribb said: "It's very rare that someone would admit their criminal activity. I believed him."
Prosecutor Steven Perian, asked DI Broadribb: "Now that you've heard a lot of information, has that changed your mind about Fynn Richardson being treated as a significant witness?"
DI Broadribb replied: "Absolutely not."
The trial continues.
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