Lawyer ‘plotted to cover up murder for boyfriend’ after body of Justin Bello found in bin shed, Old Bailey told
A lawyer plotted to cover up a murder carried out by her fugitive boyfriend and another man after their alleged victim’s body was discovered in a bin shed, a court has been told.
Suzanne John is accused of using her expertise as a criminal law solicitor to conceal the killing of Justin Bello in November 2019.
Bello, 38, was choked inside a flat belonging to John’s boyfriend, Stasious Scott, the Old Bailey was told.
His body was then stripped and “unceremoniously” dumped in a bin shed in Wembley, northwest London, where it was found by refuse collectors 48 hours later, it is claimed.
Scott fled the country four days after the killing.
John appeared at the Old Bailey alongside Scott’s co-accused, Cornell Burrell, and several others who are charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Referring to John as he opened the trial on Monday, Joel Smith said: “The prosecution case is that her profession will have given her an insight into the method of police investigations, which is likely to have been very valuable to Scott and Burrell as they set about trying to cover up.”
Although the alleged motive for the killing is unclear, Mr Smith said it is known that Mr Bello left his home on Friday 22 November and travelled to Scott’s flat in Stockwell, southwest London.
Justin Bello. Pic: Metropolitan Police
They ‘literally wanted to get away with murder’
The court how his body was found stuffed in a black suitcase after a binman noticed feet sticking out of it.
From the moment of Mr Bello’s death, Scott, Burrell, their associates and members of Scott’s family went to “great lengths” to hide what happened from police, it is alleged.
“Their efforts culminated in Mr Bello’s body being transported from Stockwell to Wembley just after midnight on November 25, where it was unceremoniously dumped in the bin shed, where it was found a few hours later,” Mr Smith said.
“Having killed Mr Bello, Scott and Burrell quite literally wanted to get away with murder.”
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Despite claims the flat where the killing took place was thoroughly cleaned, police managed to identify a stain from Mr Bello’s blood on a rolled-up rug and a lock knife with Burrell’s fingerprints on it, Mr Smith said.
The prosecutor suggested that to strangle Mr Bello – a 6ft 1in man weighing nearly 15 stone – the two alleged killers had the advantage of being two on one.
Burrell, 36, from Wandsworth, south London, has denied murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, along with John, from Mitcham, south London, and five others.
They are Scott’s father, Oliver Scott, 53, from Hornsey, north London; half-brother Paris Bell-McKay, 28, from southwest London; Dawit Girmay, 34, from Lambeth, south London; Cecilia Bruce-Annan, 50, from Stanmore, northwest London; and Christopher Hatton, 44, of no fixed address.
The trial continues.
Comedy writer Bill Dare, – who worked on shows including Spitting Image and Dead Ringers – has died after an accident overseas, his agent said.
Described as a “super producer” by his peers, Dare, 64, worked on eight series of hugely popular satire puppet show Spitting Image.
Airing on ITV during the 1980s and 1990s, the show delighted in lampooning public figures including politicians, celebrities and royalty, winning BAFTAs and Emmys. It was rebooted in 2020.
Dare also created Dead Ringers, a comedy impressions show broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
He also produced The Now Show, a satirical take on the news which ran on Radio 4 from 1998 to 2024.
Dare worked on a wide range of comedy shows during his career, including the radio production of The Mary Whitehouse Experience in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He had also written several novels.
In a statement released on Monday, his agent JFL Agency confirmed he died at the weekend.
A spokesperson said: “We are shocked and greatly saddened to have to announce the death of our brilliant client Bill Dare, who died at the weekend following an accident overseas.
“Our thoughts are with his wife Lucy, daughter Rebecca, and with all of Bill’s family and friends who will be devastated by his loss.
“Bill was a truly legendary producer and writer, and his comedy instincts were second to none.”
Oasis depicted on Spitting Image in 1996. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Colleagues were quick to pay tribute and reflect on his talent.
Impressionist Jon Culshaw wrote on X: “It’s impossible to express the unreal sense of loss at the passing of the incredible Bill Dare. The wisest comedy alchemist and the dearest, dearest friend. Much love to Lucy and all Bill’s family and friends. We shall all miss him more than we can say.”
David Baddiel posted on the social media platform: “Just heard that the original producer of The Mary Whitehouse Experience on radio, Bill Dare, has died. Bill was an amazing creative force. I owe him much. RIP.”
Former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman said she was “devastated” and that her “entire comedy career was down to Bill”.
She wrote: “When I was on the BBC Radio 4 rep company early on in career – I ran into Bill in the corridors – He asked if I was good at accents. I said yes.
“He cast me in a sketch show. I had to do about 15 different accents. We recorded in front of a live audience at Broadcasting House – afterwards Bill said ‘Why have I never met you – you’re going to have a big career’.
“He was incredibly loyal and supportive and really opened a path for me into the R4 comedy world and then TV having come out of the RSC and theatre it was all new. I will always be grateful. Fly high Bill.”
Comedian and writer Mark Steel wrote: “This is so grim. Bill was a compassionate hearty soul with the ability to be beautifully grumpy, a marvellously thoughtful comic mind.
“He’d argue but always listen and you’d always laugh, he made a million shows and wanted them all to matter and would have made a million more.”
Have I Got News for You writer Pete Sinclair said: “I am utterly devastated by Bill’s death. I still can’t believe it. He was a comedy genius. A hugely talented writer as well as a brilliant producer. A close friend and co-writer. I cannot begin to say how much I’ll miss him.”
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Julia McKenzie, comedy commissioner for Radio 4, said: “I am so terribly sorry to hear this tragic news and my thoughts are with Bill’s wife, family and friends.
“Bill has been a huge part of Radio 4 comedy for decades, as a writer and producer, and listeners will have heard his legendary name at the end of many of their favourite shows.
“Bill was a comedy obsessive, and very instinctive about making the funniest choices when it came to writing, directing and editing.
“He cared so much about his work that in the production booth during Dead Ringers you’d see him crouched over the script, utterly focused on the show.
“He was funny and very dry in person, amusingly cynical when he needed to be and always pushed to keep the comedy he made, and particularly satire, spiky.
“I’ve known and worked with him for 18 years and like many I can’t believe he has gone, he will leave a big hole in the comedy world and in our hearts.”
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