'I rarely set my burglar alarm' Joss Stone tells the court

Soul star Joss Stone told a court she left her front door open and rarely set her burglar alarm.

The 25-year-old singer was giving evidence yesterday at the trial of Kevin Liverpool and Junior Bradshaw – who are charged with plotting to rob and kill her then dump her body in a river, in June 2011.

Exeter Crown Court heard that the pair were arrested a few miles from Miss Stone's home near Ashill, mid-Devon, with an arsenal of weapons – including a samurai sword – in the boot of their Fiat Punto.

Miss Stone was at home at the time but said she was only aware of the incident when police contacted her later that day.

She told the court: "Apart from someone (police) coming around to say someone is trying to kill me, it was a really nice day."

Speaking about the lack of security at her home, she said: "I've lived in Devon for a long time and nobody really shuts their door."

Describing the security arrangements at her home at the time of the alleged plot, she said: "I had an alarm but I did not really turn it on very much.

"I didn't really have a lock on my door... but I do now."

She also agreed that the property, accessed by narrow lanes in a rural part of Devon, was an "open house" for family, friends and her then-boyfriend, Danny Radford.

Wearing a white blouse and a black skirt, the singer said: "At the time I had a gate. To get in, they (visitors) would just open the gate, drive in with their car, get up to another (wooden) gate, shut the gate hopefully so the dogs don't get out, then say hello."

The court heard that the two defendants were arrested at around 9am on June 13, 2011.

Asked by Philip King QC, defending Liverpool, if there was any reason for Miss Stone to "keep quiet" about where she lived, the Fell In Love With A Boy singer smiled as she said: "Everybody knows where everybody lives (in the area). I didn't really feel worried about it.

"I think I can say that for everybody who lives around there. Until now."

She described her tour diary – detailing dates of when she was at home – as "private", but said some people wanting to know whether she was at home or not might "put two and two together" with the help of her published concert dates.

She told Martin Meeke QC, defending Bradshaw, the only way somebody would know if she was home – outside of her friendship group, family, colleagues or neighbours – would be if they "knew somebody who knew something".

Earlier the court heard the two defendants had previously gained evidence about one of Miss Stone's former homes, near Cullompton off the M5, after studying a video documentary she agreed to be made for MTV's Cribs series.

Miss Stone smiled as the six-minute video was played to the jury this afternoon – appearing to grimace in the witness box at one point when her swearing on camera was bleeped out.

Earlier the court had heard about Miss Stone's association with members of the Royal Family.

Asked yesterday about her royal connections, Miss Stone said: "I have sung for them a couple of times – once for the Princess Diana concert.

"After that there was another charity event for (Prince) Harry.

"I don't know. I guess they just invited me because they thought it was nice to invite me."

Local postman Alex Greening, who was on his rounds on the morning of June 13, 2011, said he was approached by two men in an accident-damaged vehicle inquiring about Miss Stone.

Giving evidence yesterday afternoon, he said the occupants appeared to be lost, driving at around 10mph, a few miles from Miss Stone's home.

He said they showed him a photo of Miss Stone but he told them he didn't know where she lived.

Bradshaw, 32, and Liverpool, 35, both of St Stephen's Close, Manchester, deny charges of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause GBH and conspiracy to rob.

The trial continues.