AN ALLEGED murderer and one of his victims were co-accused of stealing more than £28,000 from a bingo hall in Basingstoke, a court has heard. 

As previously reported, Geoffrey and Michelle Hibbert were allegedly “inexplicably and savagely murdered” by their “friend” Stanley Elliott on June 20, 2021, at their South Ham bungalow.

They had been out in Reading on the evening of June 19, and had left Elliott in their home, babysitting their toddler son.

Police found the couple’s bodies in their property on Buckland Avenue in the early hours of Father’s Day (June 20). Mr Hibbert had suffered 58 stab wounds and injuries, while Mrs Hibbert had died of blood loss due to stab wounds, including seven to her neck. 

READ MORE: Couple 'savagely murdered' in Basingstoke home

Giving evidence in the trial of Elliott at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday morning (February 16), Detective Constable Thomas Bailey told jurors that Mr Hibbert and Elliott were both charged with burglary in December 2020. In March and April 2021, respectively, they pleaded not guilty to the offence and a pre-trial hearing was next set for June 25, 2021.

The court was shown CCTV footage from Buzz Bingo at Basingstoke Leisure Park on the evening of January 8, 2020. It showed two men, one slighter and the other of larger build, enter separately through the main entrance between 8.20pm and 8.25pm. 

DC Bailey said that police believed the men hid in the toilets, before the smaller man - believed to be Mr Hibbert - is seen again on CCTV later that night, entering the treasury room of the building through a roof panel, and letting the larger man - believed to be Elliott - in through the door. Both are wearing balaclava-type face coverings. 

The court heard that more than £28,500 was taken from a safe.

Sarah Jones QC, prosecuting, said that in early February, contractors had been called to the bingo building to “reinforce the roof space” in the wake of the incident, and had discovered a mobile phone. 

DC Bailey confirmed that police were able to access the pink iPhone, and found on it photos of Mr Hibbert and his family, as well as messages containing his full name and address, and his Apple ID. 

Alongside this were messages between him and “Stan” - later identified as Elliott’s number - seemingly related to the burglary. They contained photographs of the inside of the bingo building, as well as correspondence referencing the roof. 

Warrants were issued to search both men’s properties. More than £2,000 in cash was recovered from Mr Hibbert’s home, while a rucksack containing £1,000 in coins was recovered from Elliott’s home.

In a defence statement received by police on June 19 - hours before the alleged murder - Mr Hibbert claimed he had loaned his phone to Elliott on the evening in question, and that he had lost it. DC Bailey said that Mr Hibbert said he had reported his phone as lost or stolen prior to his arrest, but added that no such report was formally made. 

SEE ALSO: Heartbreaking 999 call of mother pleading with killer

Cross-examining the officer, Chris Henley, defending, asked whether police felt at the time that they had a “very strong case” against the pair, to which DC Bailey responded “yes, I would say so”.

Mr Henley continued: “It was clear, wasn’t it, that Geoffrey Hibbert, had been in possession of that phone. There is evidence of use of that phone earlier that day by Geoffrey Hibbert, so there is no room for any doubt at all that that phone is being used in the Buzz Bingo by Geoffrey Hibbert.”

Sarah Jones QC further called on a number of witnesses in relation to Elliott’s arrest on suspicion of murder on June 20 at his home at Vidlers Farm, Kiln Road, Sherborne St John. 
Among them was firearms officer PC Christopher Stag, who described the property as a “ground floor flat” and told jurors that Elliott answered the door wearing boxer shorts and what looked like “a scratch or dried blood” on his stomach. 

PC Stag agreed that Elliott was “fully compliant” with officers and he “suspected he had just woken up”. 

Elliott, 53, denies two counts of murder. The trial continues.

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story. We really appreciate your support.

Please help us to continue bringing you all the trusted news from your area by sharing this story or by following our Facebook page.