FOUR men, including one from Radcliffe, accused of murdering a cannabis farmer had wanted to steal money, a court heard.

Gavin Waters, the 26-year-old son of victim Brian Waters, said he believed the men thought they had gone too far in killing his father.

He told Chester Crown Court how the men whispered in the corner of the shed in which his father was killed "as if trying to decide what to do next".

He said he felt the men had only arrived at Burnt house Farm, in Tabley, Cheshire, to steal money. One man, he said, demanded £20,000 during the incident and his father had said it was in a "secret cupboard" in his wardrobe.

Brian Waters is alleged to have been murdered in June last year by James Stuart Raven 45, of Parnham Close, Radcliffe; Otis Matthews, 27, of Melbourne Ave, Manchester; John Godfrey Wilson, of Cliff Road, Glossop, and Ashley Guishard, 30, of York Road, Sale.

The four are also accused of committing grievous bodily harm to another man. Raven is also charged with indecent assault.

Mr Waters, aged 44, from Mainwaring Close, Nantwich, is alleged to have been tortured with a staple gun, whipped with canes and had molten plastic and caustic substances poured on his skin. He is also said to have been beaten with metal rods.

The court heard Gavin Waters admit under cross-examination that he and his mother had agreed to falsely tell police that he and his sister, Natalie, had been kidnapped and taken to Burnt House Farm. He said he had been worried about admitting the family's involvement in drug dealing.

He denied being involved in cannabis dealing himself.

The court heard his father rented two houses, one in Holland and the other, Burnt House Farm, to cultivate the drug.

Proceeding