Two guilty of murder in Bishop Auckland murder trial

Michael Richardson and a teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of the brutal murder of Lee Clarkson after he was dragged from his home before being beaten and stabbed to death.

Co-accused Karl Jones was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter while Craig Dent, who had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was found not guilty of murder.

A fifth defendant, Helen Jones was cleared of all charges.

Lee Clarkson (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

Mr Clarkson suffered a fatal stab wound when he was dragged outside his home and beaten by a group of armed attackers in December last year.

A post-mortem examination revealed that he had died as a result of blood loss after being stabbed in the abdomen.

The murder trial, at Teesside Crown Court, heard how the gang had gone looking for another man they believed had carried out a burglary at Richardson's home at Tindale Crescent.

Opening the case last month, Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, told the jury: "Lee Clarkson was 41 years of age when he was stabbed to death. He was on any view the innocent victim of the team of people.

"We say that because the evidence suggests that the target of this team was Simon Blackwell – the man who lodged in the house and who had managed to escape from the first floor window and to then run away."

He added: "Lee Clarkson’s death was the culmination of a pre-planned and targeted attack on his home by a team who had all, I suggest, signed up to the use of serious violence including the use of weapons."

Police outside the house on West Lane, Bishop Auckland, where Lee Clarkson was killed. (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

During the trial, the teenager admitted delivering the fatal stab wounds to Mr Clarkson when the victim was dragged outside his home.

The 17-year-old maintained that he never meant to kill Mr Clarkson or cause him very serious harm when he stabbed.

Simon Kealey KC, representing the teenager, asked the teenager what happened when the group turned up at Mr Clarkson’s home and a man jumped out of the window.

He replied: “I looked out of the window and people were kicking him, hitting him with a baseball bat, and punching him.

“I looked out for about 30 seconds and they were still doing it when I got downstairs.”

Mr Kealey asked what the defendant did when Michael Richardson encouraged him to use the knife he had stuck in his waistband.

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The teenager said: “I bent over him and stabbed him twice while he was laid on the ground.”

The barrister asked: “What was going through your mind when you stabbed him?”

“I was scared – I didn’t know what I was doing,” he replied. “I didn’t mean to kill him or cause him serious harm – I was just trying to scare him.”

Michael Richardson, 52, of Boddy Street, Bishop Auckland; Karl Jones, 45, of General Bucher Court, Bishop Auckland; Craig Dent, 42, of Gray Street, Eldon Lane; and the teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, were all remanded in custody.

Mr Justice Jacobs adjourned the case until October 11 when they will be sentenced.