Defendant in Wayne Bassnett murder trial went “on round the world party” when allegedly on the run

Feb 5 2013 by Eleanor Barlow, Liverpool Echo

A MAN accused of the murder of a Liverpool dad “partied” in Las Vegas, Ibiza and Amsterdam when allegedly on the run from the police.

Michael Eves, 25, of Edenhall Drive, Halewood, is accused of the murder of Belle Vale-born Wayne Bassnett, 30, who was shot in the head in Hale Village just after midnight on December 22 2010.

Chester Crown Court heard Eves flew to Tenerife with a group of friends on December 31 2010 and didn’t return to Liverpool until mid August 2011.

He told the court he wanted to “get away” after a “difficult year” in which his brother Stephen died in a car crash and he had relationship problems.

He said he had taken £10,000 cash with him.

Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, suggested Eves had booked the flights after seeing police and crime scene investigation officers outside his parents’ home in Carriage Close – near the murder scene – on December 30.

The jury were shown photos of him with friends, including former Liverpool FC player Jon Otsemobor, in Las Vegas and an Ibiza nightclub in the first half of 2011.

They also saw photos of him with pals at dance event Sensation White at Amsterdam Arena.

Eves also spent time in Barcelona, Valencia and Cyprus.

He said he would “party” to “cope” with things.

On June 28 the page “Catching criminals in Spain” on the Crimestoppers UK website was accessed on his phone.

He was arrested by Merseyside Police in September after a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear at court for a charge of affray in January that year.