A fugitive arrested in South America has pleaded not guilty to murder at Manchester Crown Court after a brutal killing in Mossley two years ago.
Suriname police detained John Belfied, 30, on drug charges in March 2023 after an international manhunt.
Belfield was circulated as wanted by Greater Manchester Police following an investigation into the death of Thomas Campbell, 38, after he was found dead at his home address on Riverside in Mossley at around 10.30am on Sunday, July 3, 2022.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and a murder investigation was quickly launched. Three individuals, including his ex-wife, have already been sentenced to a minimum of 57 years for their role in his death.
After securing his extradition this March, GMP charged Belfield with murder, conspiracy to murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Only the murder and conspiracy to rob accusations came to court, both of which he denied.
Remanding Belfield to custody, Judge John Potter set a pre-trial hearing for September, with his trial expected to begin on June 3, 2025.
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