'Murder victim' was convicted drug smuggler (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

'Murder victim' was convicted drug smuggler (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette): "John Smith died after he was punched, kicked, stabbed and hit by a car in Broadway on July 11 last year.
The trial of four people accused of murdering him this week heard Mr Smith, 58, had received a sentence for smuggling class A drugs.
A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court was told he was jailed for seven years at Snaresbrook Crown Court in August 2000.
He escaped the following September and while still on the run was stopped in London by police who found CS gas cans in his car.
Mr Smith was returned to prison and received 12 months consecutive to the seven years for the CS gas charge.
But the court heard he escaped again in April 2007 and a day later harassed a former partner with abusive calls and texts.
He was caught and returned to prison in June 2007 and received a conditional discharge for the harassment matter."