TWO youths accused of murdering a man on New Year's Eve had been on their way to a pre-arranged fight, a court heard,

Malcolm Wilson, 46, may have been beaten to death out of frustration when the brawl did not go ahead, Newcastle Crown Court was told,

The court heard that during a police interview with DC Paul Sadler, one of the boys said that a fight had been set up,

And when asked if frustration because the fight did not go ahead was the reason for the unprovoked attack on Mr Wilson, he replied: "It could have been,"

The two boys, both 16 at the time of the attack, found Mr Wilson lying on a path and the court heard that they had plotted to mug him in the hope that they could go for something to eat after a night out drinking in Sunderland,

One witness to the attack said: "They were just saying they wanted money to get a pizza or kebab, so they were going to steal his money."

Ten minutes after the beating, they went to a party as Mr Wilson lay dying from his injuries, the court was told.

Timber-yard worker Mr Wilson had been making his way home after leaving a New Years Eve party at The Shack in Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside.

The jury was told how the teenagers kicked, punched and stamped on Mr Wilson before stripping him from the waist down and leaving him to die from his injuries.

The trial continues