A MURDER trial has heard of attempts to hide vital evidence after an 18-year-old was fatally stabbed as he left a funfair.
Jack Woodley, from Newton Aycliffe, was punched, kicked, and stamped on by a gang of youths before he suffered a knife wound to his back in Houghton-le-Spring in last October.
On Tuesday, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court heard how attempts were made to hide the weapon and to get rid of blood-stained clothing.
In her police interview, a teenage girl who witnessed the sickening attack near the Britannia Inn said: “I heard that a lad had been stabbed.
“A girl was sat on the steps and someone told her Jack had been stabbed. She started screaming and crying.
Referring to his attackers, she said: “Once he hit the deck, they knew he had been stabbed and they all ran.
“All of the lads that did it were gone. I heard someone say: ‘He has hid the knife. They will never find it.”
Earlier in the hearing the jury was told a ‘Rambo-style’ knife was recovered by police during the subsequent investigation.
A forensic examination concluded it had been blood stained and cleaned while Jack's DNA was found on the sheath, along with that of one of the defendants.
Expert medical evidence on Monday revealed the fatal wound, between ribs and into the diaphragm and lung, was seven centimetres depth and would have required, “at least a mild degree of force”.
There was a further stab wound of less depth above the right hip.
The girl said she was also aware of attempts to dispose of crucial evidence from the case as one of those involved became aware of the seriousness of what happened.
She said: “A lass messaged me saying he was trying to pay her to take his bloody clothes and his stuff.
“She said she didn’t want to get involved.”
Jack died in hospital the following day and now ten boys, aged 14 to 18, deny murder.
A 15-year-old boy admits manslaughter by stabbing Mr Woodley, but denies murder.
The other nine defendants, none of whom can be identified, also deny manslaughter.
The jury heard how the girl told police she heard members of the gang saying they were "going to hit people" as they walked around at the funfair at Houghton Feast.
Jurors heard Jack had refused when asked if he wanted to have ‘one-on-one’ fight with one of the group.
The court heard he just wanted to go home and while one boy shook his hand to leave it, others were "getting in his face" to fight.
Read more: Newcastle United YouTuber removed from St James' Park
The girl giving evidence said a 16-year-old boy ran up behind Jack and punched him in the back of the head and got him in a headlock before the others joined in.
The girl said she saw four boys in balaclavas and heard two of them "come together" and say "shall we just do it?".
"It's like they've all planned it.”
She said she tried to pull one of the attackers away and said: "You're killing him".
The trial continues.
---
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article