Friend Claims Intention to Fell Iconic Sycamore Gap Tree, Alleges Accomplice's Plan
In the town of Northumberland, groundworker Daniel Graham (39) and mechanic Adam Carruthers (32) stand trial, facing accusations of bringing down the renowned Sycamore Gap tree in September 2023. Both men are charged with causing harm to the tree and the Roman Wall adjacent to it, under two counts of criminal damage.
During the trial, Graham testified that Carruthers made a phone call to him the morning following the incident, confessing responsibility for the tree felling. According to Graham, Carruthers asked him to take the blame due to his mental health concerns, believing he would receive a more lenient sentence.
Prosecutors allege that the two drove from Carlisle to the Sycamore Gap landmark during storm Agnes. doubting the confession, Graham responded, "I told him he was talking nonsense."
Previously, Carruthers had expressed a desire to cut down the tree, but Graham says he didn't take it seriously. He recalls Carruthers ordering a chainsaw, stating it was large enough to cover the tree's circumference.
Defense barrister Chris Knox argues that two individuals were involved on the night in question, with one felled the tree and the other recorded the act. However, Graham claims he's unsure who the other person was.
While he maintains that Carruthers felled the tree, Graham confessed he doesn't know with 100% certainty who the other individual was. Graham also stated that neither he nor Carruthers were using his Range Rover or mobile phone on the night of the tree falling, but were both traced to the tree's location.
At the time, the duo were considered the best of friends. When asked why Carruthers might have wanted to borrow his Range Rover, Graham responded, "Adam wouldn't need to ask for my car. He could have it whenever he wanted."
As the trial ensues, jurors have heard about an anonymous call made to the emergency services on August 23rd, 2022, claiming that Carruthers was responsible for the Sycamore Gap tree felling.
Additional insights:
- Daniel Graham is a groundworker, while Adam Carruthers is a mechanic.
- The charges the men face include two counts of criminal damage related to the destruction of the tree and damage to the historic Roman Wall.
- Key allegations in the case include using a chainsaw to fell the tree, taking a trophy from the tree, and the defense claims of being set up due to a personal dispute.
The groundworker, Daniel Graham, testified that his friend and mechanic, Adam Carruthers, admitted to causing the downfall of the Sycamore Gap tree, a historical landmark in Northumberland, via a phone call the day after the incident. However, Graham suspected Carruthers' confession was unfounded as he expressed skepticism.
In defense, it was argued that two individuals were present at the scene of the crime the night of the Sycamore Gap tree falling, with one responsible for felling the tree and the other recording the act. Nonetheless, Graham was uncertain about who the mystery individual was.
Prior to the incident, Adam Carruthers had expressed a desire to cut down the Sycamore Gap tree, but Daniel Graham dismissed his intentions as jest, recalling Carruthers' order for a chainsaw large enough to match the tree's circumference. In the general-news and crime-and-justice sector, this trial continues to unfold given the obstacles in finding hard evidence against either suspect in the prosecution's case against them.
