Trio convicted in connection with assault in Barton where a man died
Peter Crowley was found deceased at his home in April 2022
Three people have been convicted in connection with the assault of Peter Crowley, who was found deceased at his Barton home in April 2022.
After a seven-week trial at Oxford Crown Court, Tia Pomeroy, aged 20, of Stowford Road, Headington, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict, yesterday (Thursday 18 December) of one count each of the following offences:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm
- Conspiracy to pervert the court of justice in order to prevent her lawful arrest
Pomeroy was acquitted of a second count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice relating to the arranging of disposal of articles of clothing.
Mason Robins, aged 20, of Faulkner Street, Oxford, was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in order to prevent his lawful arrest, at the same hearing.
He was acquitted of a second count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice relating to the arranging or disposal or articles of clothing and assault occasioning ABH.
Morton Morton, aged 34, of Coriander Way, Oxford, was also found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in order to prevent the lawful arrest of Mason Robins and Tia Pomeroy.
He was found not guilty of a second count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice relating to the arranging or disposal of articles of clothing.
Bobby Davenport, aged 33, and formerly of Abingdon, was acquitted of all charges.
The court heard how on Saturday 23 April 2022, 50-year-old Peter Crowley was attacked by Pomeroy, who at the time was 16-years-old, during an altercation linked to the earlier non-suspicious death of Peter’s partner, Gemma Pomeroy, aunt of Tia.
Peter was taken home by a friend following the assault and was alive when the friend left.
However, the next morning, Sunday 24 April, officers attended Peter’s address in Brome Place after a concern for welfare call, and sadly found him deceased.
A post-mortem examination later confirmed that Peter’s death was caused by mixed drug toxicity and alcoholic liver disease and not due to the assault.
Within two hours of Peter being discovered, Tia Pomeroy and Mason Robins were transported from Oxford to Bournemouth by Tia’s father, Morton Morton, before they handed themselves in at Abingdon police station on 26 April 2022.
The coats and shoes worn by Robins and Tia Pomeroy on 23 April 2022 were never recovered.
Thames Valley Police says following Pomeroy and Robins’ arrests on 26 April, a lengthy investigation commenced, and they were both charged with assault and perverting the course of justice on 15 February 2023.
Morton was arrested on 11 May 2022 and was charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice on 16 February 2023.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Kevin Smith from Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “Following Peter’s tragic death, a murder investigation was initially launched.
“Although the post-mortem concluded that Peter had not died as a result of the assault by Tia, we continued to investigate, as he was the victim of an unprovoked attack.
“This tragedy has deeply affected Peter’s family, friends and wider community.
“While nothing can ever undo the loss of Peter’s life, I hope that this outcome provides his loved ones with some measure of justice.
“The verdicts reflect the dedication and professionalism of the investigation team in ensuring that those responsible for this assault and subsequent attempts to evade justice were held accountable.
“We remain committed to supporting Peter’s family during this incredibly difficult time.
“Peter and his family have been uppermost in our thoughts throughout this long and protracted investigation, and we remain committed to supporting the family during this incredibly difficult time and to upholding the principle that serious crimes will always be pursued with determination and integrity.”
Pomeroy, Robins and Morton have been released on court bail to be sentenced on a date to be confirmed in 2026.