PREVIEW

WORDS BYLINE: Julia Roberts
A murderer repeatedly lied in his police interview about the fatal stabbing of a man over a £10 phone - but gave himself away with one flippant remark.
Footage from an officer’s bodyworn camera shows Mark Jesse being arrested over the death of Charles 'Charlie' Belsham. He can be seen saying he has “nothing to hide” and had only “heard rumours” about the violent killing, despite knowing full well he was responsible.
On the morning of November 1 2025, during a confrontation in the basement of a property in Castle Road, Chatham, Jesse had stabbed Mr Belsham’s armpit and fled the scene, leaving the 43-year-old to die.
As police confronted the now convicted killer two days later while he sat on a sofa in a darkened room, Jesse can be heard asking "What's going on?" several times, seemingly perplexed by his arrest.
The 51-year-old, although compliant while being handcuffed and reminded he was under caution, was then recorded saying "I've got nothing to hide, do you know what I mean?"
He then deceitfully told the officer "I heard all these rumours about a girl, about a boy", "I heard somebody was f***ing hurt" and "I heard rumours about a man being dead".
Jesse also later commented "Charlie was a good bloke" before the officers had even mentioned the victim's name.
Attempts to cover up his involvement in the murder continued once Jesse was in custody. He claimed to have not seen his "friend" Mr Belsham since October 31, that he found out about the death over social media, and did not know who had killed him.
Although Jesse later accepted that he was responsible for stabbing the victim with a kitchen knife, he claimed self-defence during his seven-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
In evidence, he said he acted out of "instinct" when he feared being hit with a hammer.
When asked why he did not give his account of what had happened either at the time of his arrest or in several formal interviews, he said he "panicked" and did not think he would be believed.
But the jury saw through Jesse's lies and, after deliberating for more than 20 hours, found him guilty of Mr Belsham's murder on a 10 to two majority.
Convicted alongside him in the dock on a charge of assisting an offender was 41-year-old Ashley Robinson, of Meadow Bank, Chatham. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on him after hearing he drove killer Jesse away from the scene and attempted to clean the vehicle of evidence. Unlike his co-defendants, Robinson decided not to give evidence to the court. Following his arrest, however, he too denied any involvement in Mr Belsham's killing or seeing anyone with a knife or weapon. After the verdicts were returned, he could be heard muttering in the dock before asking to be taken to the cells while swearing "f***ing mugs".
A third defendant, Shane Rule, 41, of no fixed address, was cleared of any involvement in Mr Belsham's violent death. It had been the prosecution’s case that although not responsible for inflicting the fatal wound, he had "assisted or encouraged" the knife-wielding Jesse. But having told the court himself that he was not armed with a knife, did not venture further than the stairs leading down to the basement, and did not know anyone had been stabbed until after leaving the property, the jury found him not guilty of both murder and manslaughter.
Sentencing was adjourned by Judge Oliver Saxby KC until a later date.
Mr Belsham's family were not in court for the verdicts, but said in a tribute: "Charles was a wonderful son. Kind, thoughtful, and full of love. He was a caring and protective brother to his three sisters and his brother, and a devoted, loving uncle to his nieces. As the first grandson and only one for over 30 years, he loved to share his time with his grandparents, who adored him. He brought light into our lives, and that light has been cruelly taken from us. He will be missed every single day for the rest of our lives."
Jurors heard police found Mr. Belsham lying face down in a pool of blood after another resident - Ilir Meta - called 999. Trouble was said to have flared that fateful morning when Robinson demanded £10 from Mr Belsham for the sale of a Redmi A3 phone. A brief altercation between the pair ensued before Mr Meta, who was sharing the basement room with the victim, ushered Robinson back upstairs.
Jesse then went to confront Mr Belsham after Robinson told them he had been hit with a hammer. The single wound, delivered with force, penetrated the chest cavity, sliced through a rib and cut the aorta - the largest blood vessel in the body.
Mr Meta told the court when he gave evidence that he saw Jesse and Mr Rule arm themselves with a knife before going to the basement. The witness also claimed that both men had, on their return to Jesse's upstairs room, admitted to stabbing Mr Belsham.
The pair then left the property, with Robinson driving them away in a stolen Honda Jazz.
After abandoning the vehicle following a short police chase, Jesse, Robinson and Mr Rule made their way on foot to a convenience store before parting ways. CCTV footage of that car journey, walk and shop visit was also played in court. It showed Jesse and Mr Rule turning their jackets inside out in what the prosecution described as an "act of subterfuge".
Although Jesse later admitted he threw the knife from the moving car, it was never recovered. However, the bloodstained Redmi phone was found by police in the rear passenger footwell.
Prosecutor John Cammegh KC told the court it was the victim's purchase of the device from Robinson that had been the "pitifully simple" motive for the stabbing.
Mr Rule was arrested that evening while Robinson was apprehended on November 3 after a brief foot chase in Chatham.
The jury was told that although Robinson initially denied being the driver of the Honda, claiming not to know who was behind the wheel, he later admitted an offence of dangerous driving.
Jesse was the last of the three to be apprehended.
Following his arrest, Mr Rule told police the reason for turning his distinctive Zavetti camouflage jacket inside out was to avoid detection after being in a stolen car pursued by police.
Giving evidence, he also told jurors that, knowing Mr Belsham had been injured but not stabbed, he felt "ashamed, guilty and selfish" he had not sought help for him.
He said he knew nothing about anyone dying until his arrest, and denied when questioned by his barrister Danny Moore KC that he had "encouraged, intended or wanted" Jesse to stab Mr Belsham.