Gateshead dad allegedly murdered in home by teens in attack 'organised' by 15-year-old girl
by Rob Kennedy · ChronicleLiveA teenage girl allegedly organised a murderous attack on a father and son by two teenagers then watched them being stabbed through the window of their home, a court heard.
Prosecutors claim the 15-year-old girl played a major part in 'orchestrating' an attack in which two 17-year-old boys allegedly knifed Gary Belfield and Luke Williams in a "sustained and determined" attack involved "extreme violence", because of a previous falling out with someone she knew. Newcastle Crown Court heard the father and son were repeatedly knifed in their home in Felling, Gateshead and Mr Belfield died of his injuries.
The girl, a 17-year-old boy, who both cannot currently be named for legal reasons and Leandro Lopes, who is now 18, deny murdering Mr Belfield and attempting to murder his son, Luke Williams.
Peter Moulson KC, prosecuting, said it was just after 9pm on April 27 this year that a member of the public contacted the emergency services reporting a stabbing after Mr Williams staggered towards his garage shouting "Help me, they are going to get me". The court heard he was "covered in blood, looked freezing and was shaking and unsteady on his feet".
Jurors were told he had suffered stab wounds to his elbow, shoulder, lower back and had sharp force injuries to his hands. Mr Williams told the man he had just ran from his home, nearby on Elliott Drive, Felling, after being attacked there and said he was concerned about his dad, who was still inside.
When police went there, they found Mr Belfield lying in the living room slumped on the sofa. He was covered in blood, unresponsive, pale and not breathing, the court heard. He had suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper and lower back, face, head, thigh, the sole of his foot and arms.
The stab wounds to his back had damaged his ribs, lung and liver while a major artery and vein in his leg were damaged. He also had bruising to both eyes and his forehead. Despite the best efforts of the police and then paramedics, the 40-year-old died at the scene.
Mr Williams, who was 21 at the time, told police he and his dad had been for a drink that evening at a local pub before returning home to check on the welfare of their dog. On the way home, they went to a fish and chip shop and ate their food when they got back to their ground floor flat.
They then got up to leave the flat and when Mr Williams got to the doorway he saw two men in the hallway and one of them approached him and struck him in the face. Mr Moulson said: "At that time he thought it might have been a stab."
He was then stabbed in the arm and back and suffered injuries to his hand trying to grab the knife and they fell onto the sofa. Mr Moulson said: "As this attack was going on, he saw the second man repeatedly stabbing his father, Mr Belfield. He heard his father screaming in pain."
The prosecutor added: "Mr Williams was forced to leave his father at the premises to avoid being attacked further and to try to get help."
Mr Moulson said both attackers were wearing ski masks and that Lopes stabbed Mr Belfield while the younger male defendant attacked Mr Williams.
Mr Williams said when he left via the front door he was chased for a short distance by his attacker. He said as he ran away he noticed a female who prosecutors say was the female defendant. Mr Moulson said: "The prosecution say her being outside that address was no accident.
"She had played what we contend was a major part in orchestrating this attack." Mr Williams asked her what she was playing at and she didn't reply, the jury heard.
Mr Moulson said the prosecution case is it does not matter that she did not enter the home and that she was "part of a joint plan to cause at least serious harm to Mr Williams and Mr Belfield and that by her organisation of this attack she is, we contend, just as guilty as the two men who went into the house armed in the way they were."
The court heard the girl allegedly told someone afterwards that she had "watched it through the window and they stabbed him to bits". She also allegedly described Mr Williams as running away with his "guts hanging out and everything".
The court heard she is also alleged to have made references to someone having had a previous falling out with Mr Belfield and Mr Williams and made allegations about them and allegedly suggested violence be used, including by stabbing.
Mr Moulson said the injuries suffered by the two men indicate the attack was "sustained and determined". He added: "We say it was extreme violence in the carrying out of a plan as a result of which one man lost his life and the other was seriously injured."
Francis FitzGibbon KC, for the 15-year-old girl, said there was no plan to murder and if there was she was it was nothing to do with her. He said she only went to the scene to rescue a dog and she did not intend anyone to come to any harm.
Toby Hedworth KC, for Lopes, said he went to the scene to break in to rescue a dog but there was no plan to hurt anyone and that he acted in self-defence.
Mark McKone KC, for the 17-year-old, said acted in self-defence in relation to Mr Williams and didn't intend to kill him. He added that he did not fight with Mr Belfield and his case it must have been Lopes who caused the fatal wounds.
The 15-year-old and 17-year-old and Lopes, of Archer Street, Wallsend, deny murder and attempted murder. The trial continues.
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