Connor Brown murder trial

CLICK HERE for all the updates from the second day of the trial.

The court hearing as finished for today but the case will resume at 10am on Thursday morning.

CLICK HERE for a roundup of today's proceedings

John Fairweather, owner of the Gleneagles pub, has taken to the witness box.

He has confirmed that he knows Barrass and his whole family.

He had given a group of women a lift in to town in his minibus and was bringing them back when he stopped at the BP garage, in The Broadway, for the women to buy some alcohol.

It was there he spoke to Barrass, who at the time was alone, and asked if Mr Fairweather could give him a lift into town.

Mr Fairweather said he would come back for him after dropping off his passengers.

When he returned Ally Gordon, who had the time Mr Fairweather did not know, was with Barrass.

He first gave the pair a lift to Gordon’s grandmothers house where he got changed before taking them to town.

He dropped them off in the town centre. He confirmed it was a one-way trip and Mr Fairweather was not asked to pick them up again.

When asked about the two men, he said: “Barrass was very intoxicated but the other man seemed quite sober.”

He confirmed Gordon was polite and pleasant on the journey into town and there was “no cheek” from Barrass.

The first witness, Josh Mills, a friend of Barrass has taken to the witness box. 

He has confirmed that on Saturday, February 23, he was called by Barrass who asked him to pick him up from the Grey Hen in South Shields. 

He confirmed that he is a friend of Barrass and would often pick him up. 

The witness is shown footage of Barrass getting out a knife and flicking it open.

He says he didn’t see what Leighton Barrass was doing and isn’t one of the three men sat with Barrass.
 
Mr Mills says he then went to the Grey Horse to watch the Sunderland match which was well underway before taking Barrass to Grindon Club. 

He left the club but did return later on. Mr Mills is shown CCTV of Barrass with another person at 6.50pm with who Mills says is his cousin. 

They then got into the Mr Mills car who dropped then dropped off Barrass at Oddies.

When asked by Mr Whitfield QC if he say anything out of the ordinary with Barrass while with him that day he said he seemed normal.

Coming to the conclusion of his opening statement, Mr Hill QC said: “We say Barrass is guilty of murder because in law if you unlawfully assault someone with the intention of causing their death or at least causing them really serious harm, and that person dies, then that is murder.

"We say that his intention to cause at least really serious harm is plain from his use of the knife to repeatedly stab Connor Brown.

 “We say that Ally Gordon is equally guilty of murder on the basis that he intentionally encouraged and assisted Barrass intending that Brown would be killed or caused really serious injury.

"He must have known that Barrass was wielding a knife and that Connor Brown was being seriously injured, but he showed his own willingness to help and his intent by kicking and stamping.”

 The prosecution say it is their case that Barrass and Gordon started this whole episode acting together in a criminal enterprise to sell drugs. 

Mr Hill QC said: “When that failed they acted in concert to steal money, then Barrass’s pride was dented and he was shown up by being punched on the nose after he had tried to intimidate Stephen Nunn.

“[Barrass] had a knife with him, he produced it, he said “watch what I’m going to do now” he threatened to stab anyone from the crowd, and when Connor Brown came forward to use force to stop him, Barrass started stabbing. 

“Gordon was right behind him and would have seen and heard what was developing. 

“He was there as Barrass’s back-up to encourage him and to assist if necessary; and the first chance he got he was kicking and stamping on the victim.”

Prosecuting, Mr Hill QC said: “In Gordon’s case, he had no reason to follow his friend who was clearly on the attack; and when he started kicking and stamping it must have been obvious that Barrass was stabbing Connor Brown and causing him extremely serious harm. Kicking and stamping reveals his own hostile intent.

"His actions were designed to help Barrass in that fatal attack. They were a team from start to finish.”

Mr Hill QC said: “It is never reasonable to threaten people in the street with a knife, and running down an alley at 1.30 am saying you are going to stab someone does not allow you to then claim self-defence if someone is brave enough to try and stop you by delivering a punch. 

“You can only defend yourself and others against unlawful violence or the threat of unlawful violence. If you go looking for trouble and wave a knife around you cannot reasonably claim you are defending yourself when you repeatedly plunge the knife into someone’s body.”

"And in any event, any use of violence in self-defence has to be reasonable, necessary and proportionate. Nothing Barrass did with that knife was reasonable, necessary or proportionate.”

Mr Hill QC said: “From comments made to the Police and elsewhere it may well be that both of these defendants will claim that they only acted in reasonable self-defence.

“In Barrass’s case his own defence; and in Gordon’s case the defence of Barrass.

“The Prosecution says that that version of events is false and that they are both trying to hide the truth.”

Mr Hill QC said: “Although Barrass may have been punched by Stephen Nunn, and then by Connor Brown - the first time he was acting aggressively and stealing money and the second time he was wielding a knife and threatening to stab people.

“It was in fact Nunn and Brown who were entitled to use self-defence. Particularly so in Connor Brown’s case where it was entirely reasonable to punch a man running around with a knife threatening to stab innocent members of the public. In fact it was a brave thing to do.”

Having been punched by Stephen Nunn, the prosecution say Barrass had no reason to return, threatening people with a knife. Mr Hill QC said: “You cannot retreat from a fight and then claim that it is necessary to go back looking for the other party in order to defend yourself.”

Jurors have been shown CCTV of Barrass running back down the alley and being pushed into some bins.

The prosecution say off camera Connor Brown has punched Barrass who is saying he will stab anyone brandishing a knife.

Barrass then allegedly stabs Mr Brown off camera. The two are then seen on the CCTV camera scuffling and falling to the ground near the bins. Gordon is then seen kicking and stamping on Mr Brown who is on the floor.

When Barrass is pulled off Mr Brown, the victim returns to his feet and a blood stain can be seen on his top.

Footage is also shown in the aftermath of paramedics descending to help Mr Brown who had fallen to the floor.

CCTV footage from 7 nightclub which shows the aftermath of the initial altercation involving Stephen Nunn and Connor Brown, and Leighton Barrass and Ally Gordon.

Barrass is seen walking backwards with Gordon. The prosecution say that off camera Barrass and Gordon have offered to sell drugs to Mr Nunn and Mr Brown. It is alleged they refused and Barrass then attempted to steal £5.

The footage also shows Mr Nunn being held back by other members of the public after he initially punched Barrass in the nose.

Footage showing Barrass with a shiny article in his hand is then shown to the jurors which the prosecution to say is the knife.

Footage taken outside Grindon Club shows Leighton Barrass taking out the knife again and flicks the blade, says Mr Hill QC.

The court has been shown CCTV footage of Leighton Barrass in the Grey Hen shortly after 3pm on Saturday, February 23.

It shows him pulling a knife from the waistband of his track suit bottoms and opening the spring loaded blade.

Jurors are told Barrass has pleaded guilty to having a knife in the alley that night.

Gordon has denied having a knife on the East Coast Mainline at Berwick. This relates to the knife he was found with in Edinburgh, Scotland. The charge relates to Berwick as this is the point he allegedly had the knife while still in England before crossing the border.

Mr Hill has outlined the following evidence to the jury;

1. There was material on the blade of the knife recovered from the alley which yielded a DNA profile matching Connor Brown.

2. Bloodstains on the handle yielded a mixed DNA profile matching the profiles of Connor Brown and Leighton Barrass.

3. Blood on the jeans worn by Leighton Barrass yielded a profile matching the DNA of Connor Brown.

4. Blood on the sleeve of a blue puffa jacket worn by Leighton Barrass yielded a mixed profile matching Connor Brown and Leighton Barrass, as did a stain on his trainers.

5. Despite having been washed there was some blood still able to be tested on Ally Gordon’s trainers which yielded a mixed DNA profile matching the profiles of Connor Brown and Leighton Barrass.

6. There was a contact bloodstain on a cap recovered from Ally Gordon’s grandmother’s house which yielded a profile matching that of Connor Brown.

7. A tracksuit top revered from the same house had a bloodstain with a DNA profile matching Leighton Barrass.


Mr Hill QC said: “All of the above is what might be expected with Leighton Barrass bleeding from the nose and then being involved in a fight with Connor Brown in which a knife penetrated Mr Brown’s body.

“The findings also confirm Ally Gordon’s close proximity to Leighton Barrass and Connor Brown at some stage or stages of the incident.”

Locations of where the incidents took place are being described to the jury before approximately half of the CCTV evidence available is played as part of the crown prosecutions opening statement.

The trial has resumed and bundles have been given to the jury which include detail and information relation to the case. 

It is expected that CCTV will be shown to jury later this afternoon.

When Gordon was brought back to Sunderland in the early hours of the next day (Monday, February 25), he too was interviewed under caution and he answered questions but claimed that he did not know that Barrass had a knife, and only got involved to defend Barrass when he was in danger.

He said he did not know that Connor Brown has been stabbed.

He also lied about his trip to Edinburgh, claiming that he was going to his grandfather’s funeral - his grandfather had actually died 18 months earlier.

Mr Hill QC said: “Further evidence of Ally Gordon’s loyalty to Barrass came from Facebook posts later on Sunday 24th February before he caught the train to Edinburgh.

“It seems he took to Facebook to defend Barrass’s actions, claiming that Connor Brown and five friends had attacked him and Barrass, and questioning what else Barrass was supposed to do.”

The court was told that Gordon took a train from Newcastle to Edinburgh the following evening where he was arrested by British Transport Police Officers.

He was found to be in possession of drugs (ecstasy aand cannabis), and he had a lock knife in his pocket.

When asked by police why he had a knife he he claimed was for work, and in any event said he had forgotten it was in his pocket.

Gordon had initially stayed in the area to protest at the doormen restraining Barrass before he fled the scene.

Mr Hill QC said: “He initially went to his grandmother’s house, arriving at 2am with blood on his trainers. He told her that a friend had been stabbed.

“She seemingly accepted that story and soaked the trainers in water and later hung them out to dry on the washing line - where the police found them later that day, along with other clothes that he had worn.”

The knife Barrass used was found in the alleyway by police. It’s not clear if he lost the knife during the attack or if he dropped it or that he discarded it when he tried to leave the scene. 

It was knife with a spring loaded blade and forensic testing found Mr Brown’s blood on the blade.

Mr Hill QC said: “Whilst in the police station and under observations Barrass made various comments to officers, including: saying that he had not intentionally stabbed Connor Brown; that Brown had come onto the knife giving Barrass a shock; and that he had acted in self-defence.”

During interviews Barrass, who was 20 at the time, made no comment to the majority of questions put to him.

The court was told that Barrass continued to protest that he was the victim of an assault after he was arrested.

He was found to be in possession of a number of Xanax tablets, which can be prescribed for anxiety - Barrass is not prescribed this drug. 

He had left his knife in the alleyway.

The court was told that Stephen Nunn had seen part of the attack on his friend Connor, and ran to get the door staff from Gatsby’s. 
 
Various door staff arrived at the alleyway, and onlookers pointed out Barrass, who was wearing a distinctive blue puffa jacket, as the person who had done the stabbing. 

The court heard that as two doormen approached him Barrass ran away and was shouting that he was the one who had been stabbed. 

He managed to get out of the alleyway and across the road before tripping and falling. 

The first doorman to reach him kicked Barrass in the head as a precaution - knowing he had a knife and he couldn’t see both of his hands. 

Barrass was then restrained until police arrived. 

Mr Hill QC said: “A sad footnote is the fact that one of the young people in the alley phoned Connor’s parents who travelled to the scene and then followed the ambulance to the RVI, and were therefore in the hospital when he died, and able to identify their son to the Police and hospital staff.”

St John Ambulance staff who were nearby were alerted by a doorman, and rushed to attempt CPR, while an off-duty nurse did everything she could to help Mr Brown. 

Paramedics and two doctors, based with the North East Air Ambulance were stationed nearby, and were at the scene within minutes and carried out emergency surgery, in the street in an attempt to save Mr Brown’s life.

Mr Brown was then taken by ambulance to the RVI here in Newcastle where a specialist team did everything they could to save his life, but tragically at 2.50 am, one hour and 20 minutes after the stabbing, he was pronounced dead. 

Connor Brown, who the prosecution say had stepped in an attempt to stop Barrass carrying out his threats, had been stabbed five times to the chest and back. 

Mr Hill QC said: “He had been stabbed so hard that three of the motions of the knife had damaged bones.”

The critical stab wound had entered the left ventricle of his heart and it was this that proved fatal.

Connor tried to fight back but he was bleeding heavily, and the pair ended up crashing into some bins and falling on the floor. Barrass was on top of Mr Brown and continued to wield the knife, delivering blows to the front and back of his body, the court has been told.

The second defendant, Gordon, had followed close behind Barrass and then took the opportunity of Connor Brown being on the floor with Barrass on top to join the attack, kicking and stamping at Mr Brown while Dominic Moan tried to stop him.

The court heard Connor Brown has stood forward and punched Barrass in an attempt to stop him from carrying it his threat.

“As Barrass was threatening to stab someone, Connor Brown stepped forward and punched him, we say to stop him carrying out his threat. Barrass then proceeded to stab Connor Brown in the chest,” said Mr Hill.

The court heard that Barrass stormed down the alley making threats towards a group of people.

Mr Hill QC said: “One of the clearest accounts of what took place again comes from Dominic Moan. He described how there was a small crowd or group in the alleyway, men and women; a group that included Connor Brown, and Barrass rapidly approached the group, saying he would stab anyone of them.  

“People started backing off as Barrass came on issuing his threat.”

Jamie Hill QC said: “This was never going to be a fair fight. This was never going to be a scuffle or an exchange of punches. Barrass was carrying a knife and was intent on using it.”

The prosecution allege that when Barrass refused to give him his £5, Mr Brown’s friend, Stephen Nunn, tried to reason with Ally Gordon who he knew through school. 

The court heard that when Barrass became aggressive and refused Mr Nunn punched Barrass in the nose. Barrass and Gordon then retreated to further up the ally. 

Mr Nunn considered chasing down Barrass and Gordon as he no longer had enough money for his taxi home but decided, or was persuaded, against it. 

But having initially retreated Barrass was now out for revenge the court was told. 

Barrass pulled the knife and headed back down the alleyway where the initial incident had occurred. By this time Mr Nunn had left the area to go back to Gatsby’s but Mr Brown remained with a number of other people.

Speaking to the jury, Jamie Hill, prosecuting, said Connor Brown has be our with friends before they got a taxi to the city centre to go to the Peacock for an 18th birthday celebration. 

After midnight they had moved to Gatsby’s bar on Derwent Street in Sunderland. 

Connor Brown had told a friend that he needed to use the toilet but because it was busy they decided to go out to the alleyway. 

It was in the alleyway that Mr Brown and his friend were approached by the defendants Barrass and Gordon, the prosecution say. 

The court heard Barrass had tried to sell drugs to the Mr Brown’s friend, Stephen Nunn, but they had refused. Barrass then asked to exchange a £10 for two £5 but when Mr Nunn handed over £10 Barrass only handed back £5 and tried to give him some pills.

Opening the case, Jamie Hill QC said: “As you heard in the indictment read out this is a case of murder. The man’s name, the victim’s name, is Connor Brown. He was just four days past his 18th birthday when he died in the early hours of Sunday, February 24. 

“It’s the prosecutions case that the first defendant Leighton Barrass repeatedly stabbed Mr Brown with a knife while the second defendant, Ally Gordon, was deliberately engaging and encouraging Barrass. He was also kicking and stamping on Mr Brown.”

Honourable Mr Justice Lavender told the potential jurors ahead of the selection that the case is expected to last four weeks.

Describing the outline of the case, Honourable Mr Justice Lavender said: “The two defendants are Leighton Barrass and Ally Gordon, they are both 20 and from the Sunderland area. Barrass use to also live in Washington. 

“The case is in relation to a stabbing which took place in the early hours of Sunday, February 24 this year in Sunderland city centre.”

Prosecuting the case is Jamie Hill QC while Barrass is being defended by Jonathon Whitfield QC and Gordon by Andrew Fisher QC. 

The jury panel is being brought up to the court where 12 jurors will be selected and put in charge. 

It is hoped opening statements will begin this afternoon.

Due to the serious nature of the offences and the not guilty pleas the case will be heard by a jury of 12 people.

The hearings cannot begin until the 12 people have been selected from those who are on jury duty.

Leighton Barrass, 20, and Ally Gordon, 20, have been brought into the dock.

Barrass is wearing a white shirt and black tie. He stands alongside Gordon who is wearing a black suit.

What does it mean when a court is 'in chambers'?

If part of a court hearing is 'in chambers' this is when the Judge and the barristers and solicitors involved in the case discuss matters not in open court.

It means the public and press are not allowed to observe the proceedings.

Leighton Barrass, of Hartside Square, and Ally Gordon, of Polmuir Road, both Sunderland, are charged with the murder of Connor Brown.

They have both denied murdering the much-loved teenager.

Their trial was due to take place in July but was delayed due to administrative reasons.

Both men were remanded in custody ahead of the trial which is due to start today (Wednesday, November 13).

The 18-year-old was found in a back lane next to The Borough pub in Sunderland city centre in the early hours of Sunday, February 24, with life-threatening injuries, which Northumbria Police said were consistent with a stabbing.

He was taken to hospital but sadly died.