Two friends who denied taking part in the killing of a third teenager then tried to throw the other, “under a bus” when confronted about their involvement, a murder trial jury was told today (Wednesday January 18).
Ben Cook and Louis Michael Hackett, both aged 19 at the time, repeatedly denied knowledge about the disappearance of 18-year-old Kieran Williams, who was last seen on April 18, Easter Monday, last year.
But Newcastle Crown Court heard that after his partly decomposed body was found in a makeshift grave in an old industrial area, near the new Northern Spire Bridge, over the River Wear, in Sunderland, on June 2, both gradually began to change their stories.
David Lamb KC, prosecuting, told the jury in his opening outline in the case, that the body was found to have multiple stab wounds and bruising to soft tissue in the back.
Read more: Sunderland teen Kieran Williams, 18, is still missing
A pathologist later confirmed the deceased, who lived in supported accommodation in the Ashbrooke area of Sunderland, died from blood loss caused by stab wounds.
Examination of the scene by a forensic archaeologist discovered Mr Hackett’s finger prints in the clay of the deep, possibly pre-dug, burial site and in the grave itself.
Mr Hackett, who had been interviewed three times on suspicion on conspiracy to kidnap Mr Williams at different times in May, each time claiming to have nothing to do with his disappearance, was then arrested for conspiracy to murder.
He continued to deny involvement in the disappearance of Mr Williams, who he described as being, “like a brother to him”, and made no comment in a further interview.
Mr Lamb said when the defendant was arrested again on June 4, this time for murder, he maintained his previous position.
He said he had been to the area near to where the grave was found, but not to the burial site itself.
Mr Lamb said when confronted with the finger print evidence, however, “there was then a radical change”
Having initially, again, made no comment, in a second interview he gave a prepared statement denying killing Mr Williams.
But he confirmed he met him on April 18, and went to the area of the grave, where an argument developed between his co-accused (Mr Cook), and Mr Williams.
He said Mr Cook then produced a knife and stabbed Mr Williams, “numerous times”.
Mr Hackett claimed he tried to pull Mr Cook away from Mr Williams, who collapsed.
He said his co-accused then asked him to help to bury Mr Williams and, “not thinking straight”, he helped to do so.
Read more: Fresh appeal launched for missing Sunderland teen, 18
Mr Hackett told police he previously said nothing as he was “covering” for Mr Cook and apologised.
Mr Lamb said Mr Cook was previously arrested on May 11, when he told police he last saw Mr Williams on April 15, three days before he was last sighted.
But he was re-arrested in early June and gave a prepared statement, denying any knowledge about Mr Williams’ disappearance.
Three days later, however, following Mr Hackett’s interview earlier the same day, in which he said Mr Cook was responsible for stabbing Mr Williams, he was further arrested.
Mr Cook then claimed to have been in the company of the other two in the area of the grave, smoking cannabis, but he said Mr Hackett attacked Mr Williams and he saw him stab him multiple times.
He claimed Mr Hackett threatened him with the knife and told him to move the body.
Mr Cook also said Mr Hackett set fire to the body and then covered it with leaves.
He said he left on his bike, however, and phoned Mr Williams later to see if anything was wrong.
Mr Lamb told the jury that each defendant was, “blaming the other for what happened”.
“The prosecution would say, as admitted by each, they told a pack of lies about their lack of involvement, a stance they maintained during a number of police interviews.”
Mr Lamb told the jury: “You may ask yourself, if each was an innocent man, why they didn’t tell the truth and say what happened, that they were only involved in covering up out of fear and to protect their co-accused?
“We say each man, here, made his calculations before throwing his co-accused under the bus, as a final throw of the dice to try to get out of involvement in a murder in which the prosecution says they were both involved, both in it together.
Read next:
Kieran Williams: Body found in search for missing Sunderland teenager
Two charged with murder of Sunderland man Kieran Williams
Kieran Williams: Sunderland crime scene remains as two appear in court
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“In short, acting in concert.”
Mr Cook, of Fordfield Road, and Mr Hackett, now 20, of Fordenbridge Square, both Ford Estate, Sunderland, each deny the charge of murder.
The trial is expected to last between two and three weeks.
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