Teenager Jack Woodley was ‘flying kicked’ in the head in a ‘sustained’ attack by a suspected murderous mob of youths, an eyewitness told jurors.
Ten youths are on trial accused of killing the 18-year-old in a joint attack in Houghton-le-Spring. It is claimed that Jack was kicked, punched and punched before one of the alleged attackers stabbed him in the back.
One witness said he saw one of the alleged attackers deliver a flying kick to his head while another said he saw someone standing on a wall kicking him in the head.
READ MORE: Jack Woodley murder trial: Girl who tried to stop alleged murder mob tells how she was attacked
The accused teenagers, aged 14 to 18, deny the murder and are being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
Witness Christopher Johnston was at The Britannia Inn pub with his friend when he saw the alleged attack. He told the jury: “There was a group of teenagers who had another boy stuck between them and were hitting and kicking him. There were eight to ten boys, I don’t know exactly how many were kicking. kicks.
“He was getting punched and kicked to the upper half of his body and head. He was crouched down trying to protect himself with his arms above his head.
“One of the boys managed to get up and kicked him in the head. He grabbed something and got up and went over the boy and kicked him head to toe.
“It was like a flying kick with his right foot. I would say it was quite hard. He hit the boy’s head. They surrounded the boy and punched and kicked him. The boy tripped over the window we were sitting at.”
Mr Johnston agreed what he saw was ‘quite shocking’ and described it as a ‘sustained attack’.
His friend, Daniel Reay, also saw some of what happened that night. He said: “A few people were looking out the window. I looked outside and there was clearly an altercation going on.
“A young boy was trapped between electrical boxes and railings and attacked by eight other young people who were all wearing balaclavas. They were punching and kicking and he had his hands around his head trying to get himself protect.
“Lots of people were throwing punches and kicks. Someone was higher up the wall kicking him in the head. He kicked him in the head four or five times.”
Mr Reay said the victim managed to free himself and staggered a few yards towards the pub, then fell to the ground and was attacked again. He said he was stomped on his back and head and then they disappeared.
Deborah Hardly was also in the pub that evening and was looking for her partner through the window when she saw a group of around 30 young people marching towards the pub at around 9.15pm. She said: “There was a boy up front and it looked like he was trying to run away.
“Three of the four boys came over and started hitting him from behind. They were all dressed in trainers and tracksuits, dark clothes and some had hoodies, some didn’t.
“He was hit in the head from behind.” Ms Hardy said she could see there was screaming but could not hear what was being said. She said the boy ran away and jumped between a green electrical box and railings.
She added: “They gathered around him. There were the same three or four young people plus others. There were about 20 standing around. There were 10 to 12 people hitting him. He didn’t there were only punches, that’s all I could see.”
The witness said the violence near the electrical box lasted three or four minutes. She added: “The next time I saw him he was on the ground. He was lying on his side.
“He was getting kicked and stomped. There were five or six that I could see dabbing at. It was his head and his side. He managed to get up and ran sideways towards the pub in the lane .”
Ms Hardy said she saw no violence in the alley, but said the boy tripped and fell on his back.
Another witness, John Richardson, said he told the youngsters to “stock up” but were told not to get involved. He then saw Jack on the ground and told the court: “He was gargling and thrashing around. There was a large bloodstain the size of a dinner plate, on his back.”
The trial continues.