Feud between two Stockton friends came to bloody conclusion

Adam Mackintosh is accused of murdering Lloyd Donkin when the pair clashed after weeks of animosity started when a window was broken when a fight broke out between the pair on Valentine’s Day. 

The 28-year-old had been friends with Mr Donkin for several years and his sister was in a relationship with the brother of his victim at the time of the alleged murder.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the feud erupted into violence after a series of Facebook messages were exchanged between the pair in the lead up to June 26.

Lloyd Donkin (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

David Lamb KC, prosecuting, said the stabbing happened minutes after Mackintosh drove past Mr Donkin while he was sitting outside the house of his on-off girlfriend before an exchange of words took place.

Jurors heard how Mr Donkin and friend jumped into a black Mercedes to follow the defendant as he passed in an Audi along Wrensfield Road, Stockton.

Mr Lamb said that within minutes Mackintosh had armed himself with a knife and was spotted jogging towards the girlfriend’s house on nearby Stainmore Close.

The jury heard how the defendant is caught on CCTV arguing with a group of residents who were urging him to “put the knife down”.

He said: “Rachel Blakey shouted to warn Lloyd that the defendant had a knife and Lloyd shouted to the defendant “You going to stab me” and tried to kick the at the defendant’s hand to disarm him. He did not succeed and the knife remained in the defendant’s hand.

“The defendant then stabbed Lloyd Donkin with this knife in the left-hand side of his body.”

Jurors heard how Mackintosh was struck with a golf club by a woman before he fled the scene in his car as Mr Donkin collapsed to the ground while bleeding heavily and died later that evening.

Mr Lamb added: “CCTV was able to track his movements and showed him stopping his car on The Princess of Wales Bridge in the centre of Stockton.

“Here and in an attempt to dispose of the evidence and disguise his crime he threw the knife that he had used as the murder weapon and his yellow t-shirt over the edge and into the River Tees.”

Police at the scene of the alleged murder in Stockton (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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The court heard how the items were never recovered despite police divers spending three days searching for them.

Mackintosh, of Coral Grove, Thornaby, pleaded not guilty to murder following his arrest.

The jury will hear the first of the evidence tomorrow.

The trial continues.