999 call in Malton river murder trial played to jury

In a 999 call played to the court, pub worker Amy Simpson could be heard shouting “get out, get out” to someone.

She told the control room operator a woman was in the river, her ex-boyfriend Robert Scaife was trying to rescue her and Vincent Morgan wouldn’t get out of the river.

She told the jury: "He (Morgan) wasn't helping."

Earlier Leeds Crown Court had heard Ms Simpson say she had been walking along a riverside path near Malton Bus Station when she saw Morgan and his girlfriend Lisa Welford in undergrowth between the path and the river.

Shortly after Morgan shouted "she's in the river", said Ms Simpson. She hadn't heard a splash and she rang 999.

Morgan, 47, of no fixed address, denies murdering Lisa, 49, and two charges of causing actual bodily harm.

His barrister James Bourne-Arton KC said Morgan denies any responsibility for Lisa going into the river. He alleged Lisa had got herself deliberately or accidentally into the water and that she had in the past been suicidal.

He also alleged Morgan was not responsible for the injuries that led to the charges of causing actual bodily harm and gave other possible explanations for them.

The River Derwent looking towards the footpath (Image: Google Street View)

Ms Simpson told the jury she was walking home after 11pm on April 24 this year along the footpath when she heard a noise and saw Morgan, whom she knew, crawling through the undergrowth towards the path.

He asked who she was and she identified herself. Morgan asked where they were.

“He was clearly drunk. He was stumbling and he couldn’t stand up,” alleged Ms Simpson.

She said she offered to take him to Lisa's home where he was staying, and Morgan said “she’s there” pointing behind him.

Ms Simpson said she then saw Lisa lying in the undergrowth with her head close to the river and her legs nearer the path and supporting her head on a bent arm.

“It was a very unnatural position,” alleged Ms Simpson. “I remember thinking that doesn’t look right.”

She rang her ex-boyfriend Mr Scaife for help and while he was on the way, the atmosphere changed and Morgan shouted that Lisa was in the water.

The court heard the first police officer arrived shortly afterwards while Ms Simpson was on the 999 call and together with Mr Scaife got Lisa out of the water.

Police and paramedic evidence read to the jury described how Lisa's heart had stopped and a defibrillator failed to restart it, but an adrenalin shot succeeded.

She was taken to York Hospital and after she was diagnosed with a bleed on the brain to Hull Royal Infirmary.

Morgan was arrested by the riverside on suspicion of breaking a domestic violence protection order banning him from contacting Lisa and taken to York Hospital for a check over.

He told police: “She jumped in the water”, “she was going to kill herself” and that he knew he shouldn’t have been with Lisa but he loved her.

He asked ambulance staff to give a figure to the chances of Lisa surviving.

After doctors told police Lisa had a broken femur, he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and told police:  “Are you having a laugh?”

The trial continues.