Six juveniles murdered a Spalding father-of-two in a row over broken fencing at his home, a court has heard.
It was claimed on Monday (June 15) that Warren Free was kicked, punched, stamped upon and repeatedly struck with a metal pole which he had taken with him as he confronted the group, who were causing an early-hours disturbance. The Crown Prosecution Service says the “fast and brutal” attack was a joint enterprise.
The group was Jake Edwards (now 18), and six juveniles, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. One boy is 17, and two further boys and two girls are aged 15. One of the group – a 14-year-old boy – was questioned by police and released without charge.
On the first day of what is expected to be a seven-week trial at Lincoln Crown Court, the six defendants were all dressed smartly and listened closely to proceedings. They heard jurors informed that the definition of murder was “intent to kill or to cause really serious harm”.
In his opening statement setting out the case for the Crown, prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC told the jury of six men and six women: “It’s unlikely that there will be argument that any of these six were not at the scene. What happened and who did what will be what I might describe as ‘the battleground’.”
The court heard that the group was making a lot of noise in what’s known locally as “Bumpy Park” near the victim’s bungalow in Coronation Close. It was 3.30am on August 28 last year when Mr Free (42) was woken and decided to deal with the disturbance.
After a row with the group, Mr Free returned home and got the pole. He told a witness: “People are trying to break down our fence.”
Mr Trimmer said: “Stepping through the broken fence, he walked towards the group. As he walked out, Jake Edwards got behind him and either tripped or forced him to the ground.
“Jake Edwards was on top of him, punching him in the head.”
The court heard that another boy shouted “Everyone on him!” at which point other members of the group kicked and punched Mr Free and stamped on his chest.
It was claimed that one of the girls grabbed the pole and hit him around the head with it. The attack was said to have lasted for about two minutes.
The hearing was told that one of the group said: “Oh s***, what if he’s dead?”, but they were relieved to see him getting to his feet as they left the park.
When Mr Free got back home, he was “in a bad way”.
Mr Trimmer said: “There was blood coming from an eye and from his teeth. He was upset, depressed and, in short, was covered in blood.”
Mr Free went to the bathroom to clean himself up and then went to bed. Later that morning a friend called an ambulance after seeing Mr Free was “breathing heavily” and could not be woken.
Paramedics arrived and called for an air ambulance. Mr Free, who had suffered three broken ribs, severe bruising and bleeding to the brain, died in hospital the following day.
According to Mr Trimmer, only the six defendants, the group member who was not charged and Mr Free witnessed what went on that night. There were CCTV images of the group in various places, but none of the attack.
The court was shown footage of the group going to and from the park, and of a boy running towards the Coronation Channel carrying the pole and returning empty-handed.
One of the 15-year-old boys is said to have suggested disposing of the pole and faces a charge of encouragement to pervert the course the justice. The 17-year-old is charged with perverting the course of justice by throwing the pole into the water.
Mr Trimmer said the pole was recovered by a police diver on September 6, but the passage of time meant it was of no use evidentially.
All six defendants deny murder and the trial continues.
- More in Thursday’s edition of The Spalding and South Holland Voice and throughout the trial.
