19-year-old Layton Randle is on trial at Plymouth Crown Court, accused of murder after 24-year-old Drew Perham’s body was discovered by police divers at King Point Marina in the UK on January 25. Randle denies murder; however, the court heard that he had previously offered a guilty plea to manslaughter.

According to Plymouth Live, prosecutor Dan Pawson-Pounds KC told jurors that police had reportedly been called shortly after midnight following information that Randle had beaten Perham at the docks and pushed him into the water. The prosecutor described the conditions that night as “dark, cold, wet and windy” as officers searched the marina and surrounding area.

Perham’s mobile phone and watch were discovered near the scene at around 1:30am, and his trainers were later found in the water at around 6am. Police divers subsequently discovered his body at around 11:30am.

CCTV footage examined by investigators suggested that Perham entered the water between 1:33am and 1:35am, and a post-mortem examination concluded that he died from drowning.

The court heard that on the evening of Friday, January 23, Randle encountered Perham at THÊ DEPØ venue on Union Street in Plymouth and spent several hours with him before the alleged murder.

The prosecution alleges that Randle arranged for Perham to travel with him and others to the marina by car, then forced Perham to get out of the car. Witnesses are then said to have seen Randle launch an “unprovoked and unexpected attack” on the victim.

The court heard that Randle had gone to his grandmother’s home, where he was living, soon after the attack at 2:46am. There, he recorded a one-minute-and-18-second video explaining what he had done. Police later seized the recording, which Randle had also shown to people at a party he attended that same night.

Prosecutors allege Randle told several people at the party that police were “going to get him” because he had argued with someone called Drew and had harmed him. One person present at the party mentioned his concerns to his mother about what Randle had said. His mother subsequently contacted police, prompting a search for Randle.

The jury also heard that Randle communicated with several people on Snapchat about the assault. In messages, he allegedly said he knew he was going to be arrested and that he had “banged this guy and pushed him off the ledge into the water”. Randle allegedly recalled the victim “hitting something hard as he fell”.

The prosecution has also pointed to alleged homophobic comments made by Randle in the aftermath. Randle is accused of repeatedly referring to Perham as a “gay lad” and, in one Snapchat conversation, using a homophobic slur referring to Perham.

Alluding to the suspected homophobic nature of the attack, prosecutors said these comments could provide the jury with “some insight” into what happened at the Plymouth marina and why Perham was assaulted.

Perham suffered three fractured ribs, which the court heard could have been caused during the alleged assault or when he struck the water. Water analysis found that the temperature was around nine degrees Celsius. The jury heard Perham may have experienced cold water shock when he entered the water, potentially causing him to gasp suddenly and inhale water.

Prosecutors also presented evidence of bruising on either side of Drew’s chest. This was described as “parallel bruising” and was said to suggest that Drew remained conscious after entering the water and had attempted to pull himself out of the water.

Randle was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on Sunday, January 25. He was later arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of Perham’s body in Plymouth.

During police questioning, Randle answered “no comment” to every question and refused to provide investigators with the PIN code for his phone.

He later provided a prepared statement through his solicitor. In it, he acknowledged being involved in an altercation with a man called Drew at Millbay Marina but stated that he did not intend to cause him “serious harm”.

Randle denies the charge of murder.

If you have been affected by this story or are looking to reach out to someone for support, advice or just to talk, there are numerous services available for LGBTQ+ people, listed below, and many offer instant messaging support.

Samaritans
National LGBT+ Helpline
The Switchboard
Dublin Lesbian Line
Belong To
TENI
Aware
Pieta House
Jigsaw
Mental Health Ireland
Garda Confidential Line