‘Murder victim’s plan to steal and sell baby’

A MAN murdered with an axe may have been killed to stop him embarking on a baby-selling scheme, a court heard yesterday (Thursday).
The body of James Pounal, 51, a heroin add­ict, was found three weeks after he was attacked at his flat in Selden Walk on the Andover estate in Holloway.
He had indicated his intention to steal and sell an infant girl to a childless couple to take to Canada, a jury at the Old Bailey was told.
Making the disclosure when giving evidence was fellow addict ­
Iraklis Malamas, 33, who denies being the killer.
Unemployed Malamas, of Camden Road, Camden Town, on trial for murder, maintained he was at his ­ex-girlfriend’s home in Streat­ham when Mr Pounal, a close friend for years, was killed by four heavy axe blows to the head on New Year’s Eve, 2007.
Malamas and Mr Pounal were planning to get rid of large amounts – £25,000 face value – of fake notes to drug dealers, the court heard.
It is alleged that Malamas got greedy and decided to “dispose” of his friend and steal the counterfeit £20 notes, £800 in genuine currency, a mobile phone and a computer.
The trial continues.
DAVID ST GEORGE