A POLICEMAN has spoken of the moments he saw a badly burnt body smouldering in a Cumbrian field.

Constable Dennis Wicker said he could see the corpse next to a wall, when he was called to the scene close to Killington Lake Services on the M6, near Kendal.

The body was later identified as 59-year-old John Harvey from London.

Businessman Terence Cook, 54, of Landedmans, Westhoughton, and Savvas Petri, 52, and his 21-year-old son Theodosi, both of Oakwell Drive, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, are on trial at Preston Crown Court, accused of killing him and disposing of his body. All three have denied murder.

Mr Cook has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of carrying a firearm with intent and assisting an offender. Theodosi also denies assisting an offender.

Constable Wicker from the Cumbria Constabulary told the jury he was called to the scene on the morning of April 25 last year. A member of the public had spotted the burning remains and dialled 999.

The policeman said: "I leaned over a gateway and could see the body about 15 feet away. I went into the field to see if there was anything I could do to revive the man. The body was burning, and there were short bursts of flames coming from it."

The area was quickly cordoned off, and scene of crime officers were called. Phillip Smith, scene of crime manager, arrived and discussed with a fire officer how the flames should be extinguished. It was decided that a hose from the fire engine could damage evidence, and instead water from a bucket was used to gently dowse the fire.

John Smith, assistant divisional fire officer for Cumbria Fire Service, also went to the scene. He estimated that the body had been burning for several hours.

He added: "In my view, the nature of the damage to the body and the degree of burning means it's likely it had been burning for some time." He said this could have been anything from three hours upwards.

Mr Harvey of Enfield was reported missing by his daughter.

Police identified Mr Harvey, from Enfield, by fingerprints taken from the burnt body. A post-mortem examination revealed he had died from a gunshot wound to the back of his head. He had also been badly beaten.

The court heard earlier this week that Savvas Petri owed a substantial amount of money to Mr Harvey, who had been pressing him to repay it. It is said Mr Harvey disappeared after going to see Mr Petri about the debt.

Mobile phone records and CCTV systems on the M6 show that Petri senior and his son travelled to Cook's business premises in Westhoughton that afternoon.

The prosecution said Cook, who runs a recycling waste plant in Westhoughton, knew Petri senior well.

Witnesses saw the three men talking at his business premises before they went for a meal at the Watergate Pub, Middle Hulton, near the M61.

Pub camera surveillance captured Cook getting into Petri's BMW at around 8.30pm, and he returned for his Renault Laguna the following morning at around 3am. The prosecution claim that they were disposing of Mr Harvey's body by setting it on fire.

The trial before Deputy Circuit Judge Sir Rhys Davies, QC, is expected to last for another three weeks.

(Case proceeding)