A TEENAGER accused of being involved in the attack which led to the death of Jack Woodley told a murder trial jury that when the fighting began he put on a knuckleduster he had in his pocket.

But the 15-year-old youth, then aged 14, claimed he did not get involved in the group assault as he was pushed out of the way, with his only part in the commotion being to punch a girl who was screaming at him.

The youth, who had drunk vodka and taken some cannabis that evening, Saturday October 16, last year, said he was about “three out of ten” high when he went with friends to what was the final night of the Houghton Feast funfair, in Houghton-le-Spring.

Giving evidence at Newcastle Crown Court the youth said he took the knuckleduster with him as it was known that there was often trouble between groups of youths on the final night of the feast.

Read more: Jack Woodley: 'It was an accident' says youth who committed fatal stabbing

Under examination-in-chief by his counsel, Kama Melly, he said he witnessed a fight at the fairground between two girls, and was asked by a stranger, who he now knows to have been Jack Woodley, what it was all about.

He said he spoke briefly to Mr Woodley and learned his name was Jack and asked where he was from, being told either “Newton Aycliffe or Newcastle”, ending their chat with a fist bump.

When the friends he was with began to leave the fairground and make their way up Dairy Lane to bus stops in The Broadway, he saw Mr Woodley again, with his back to a wall, “looking stressed”, surrounded by other people.

He said Mr Woodley was saying something like: “If you are going to bray us, bray us now,” to those surrounding him.

The defendant said he went over and told the other people to, “leave him alone”, adding, “he’s done nothing wrong,” as he said he had, “seemed like an all right lad” when he spoke to him half-an-hour earlier.

He told the court somebody who seemed to be with Mr Woodley stepped in and said: “Nobody’s hitting him,” and he shook his (Mr Woodley's) hand as everyone kept walking towards The Broadway.

Asked why a short time later, near the bus stops, in The Broadway, it was said he stood on a bench and shouted something like: “I’ll fight anyone,” he said he could not remember what he said, but it was possible.

He said a girl in his group told him to, “get down” from the bench.

The youth said he then stood at the bus stop and only went over to the commotion as he recognised it involved one of his friends and Mr Woodley, “chucking each other about.”

As he approached, seeking to help his friend, he said he put the knuckleduster onto his right hand but claimed he did not land any blows.

He admitted turning and punching a girl who, it emerged was Mr Woodley’s girlfriend, as she was, “screaming in my face”.

The youth said he then walked away from the scene with two of his friends.

He said he was unaware at the time that there had been a stabbing and claimed he had not seen anyone with a knife.

The youth admitted that after his arrest the next day he told police that he landed two punches on Mr Woodley, but he said he only made the claim in the hope they would not ask him about having a knuckleduster.

Under cross-examination, by prosecuting counsel Mark McKone, he said he did not harm Mr Woodley or do anything to him to him that he would regret.

Mr Woodley died in hospital from a stab wound to the back the night after the attack.

The youth giving evidence today is one of ten aged 14 to 17 at the time who denies murder.

One youth, aged 15, has admitted inflicting the stab wound, and admits manslaughter, but as with his nine co-accused, denies the charge of murder.

Proceeding.

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