A WOMAN accused of plotting her former boyfriend’s murder claimed she did not tell police about his rivalry with another ex because she “did not think it was relevant”.

Rebecca Ryan was originally interviewed by the police on August 1 last year as a witness following a brutal attack on Michael Beckwith in Dovercourt.

Ryan, 22, claimed she had gone to the scene of the attack, off Barrack Lane, with her ex, Mr Beckwith, 44, for a chat.

She claimed they were set upon by two masked men she did not recognise and she was punched in the face.

Amjad Malik QC, prosecuting, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, said Ryan told police she could not think of anyone who may want to harm Mr Beckwith.

However, during her time in the witness box she has spoken about how she was scared of fellow murder suspect Scott Swift.

The court heard he had allegedly threatened Mr Beckwith in person and on Facebook.

Ryan told the jury she had repeatedly lied to Swift to keep him away from Mr Beckwith although she said none of this to police.

She claimed she only wanted to keep the two apart because she does not like confrontation and did not think police needed to know about Swift’s feelings towards Mr Beckwith.

Swift had been dating Ryan prior to Mr Beckwith.

Ryan told the court: “What I thought was important I told police. I did not think it was relevant.

“I did not think he [Swift] would do this to anyone. I did not think he was anything to do with it.” Mr Malik QC accused her of lying when police asked if she knew anyone who might want to harm Mr Beckwith.

She said: “I was not being 100 per cent truthful in that way.”

Mr Beckwith, Goodlake Close, Dovercourt, died on August 2.

Swift, 27, of Station Road, Dovercourt, denies murder. Joseph Smith, 18, of Canning Street, Harwich, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. Ryan, of Hilltop Rise, Weeley, denies murder and perverting the course of justice. Triston Biddlecombe, 24, and wife Enderlein Biddlecombe, 20, both of East Street, Harwich, deny perverting the course of justice.