Yahoo News Murder trial: Teenager admits fatally stabbing Bishop Auckland man
A teenager has admitted fatally stabbing a man as he was being kicked, punched, and hit with a baseball bat by other members of an alleged mob-handed armed group attack.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told jurors that he pulled a kitchen knife out of his waistband before twice plunging it into Lee Clarkson’s body.
He told Teesside Crown Court how he walked away from the scene as the 42-year-old was laid on the ground outside his Bishop Auckland home screaming in pain.
Five people were charged with the murder of Mr Clarkson after he bled to death outside his home late last year.
Police outside the house on West Lane, Bishop Auckland, where Lee Clarkson was killed. (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)
During his evidence, the teenager maintained that he never meant to kill Mr Clarkson or cause him very serious harm when he stabbed.
Simon Kealey KC, representing the teenager, asked him if any of the other of his co-accused were armed, the teenager replied that Karl Jones was armed with a machete while Craig Dent and Michael Richardson were carrying a baseball bat.
The barrister asked the teenager what happened when the group turned up at Mr Clarkson’s home and a man jumped out of the window.
He replied: “I looked out of the window and people were kicking him, hitting with a baseball bat, and punching him.
“I looked out for about 30 seconds and they were still doing it when I got downstairs.”
Mr Kealey asked what the defendant did when Michael Richardson encouraged him to use the knife he had stuck in his waistband.
Lee Clarkson (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)
The teenager said: “I bent over him and stabbed him twice while he was laid on the ground.”
The barrister asked: “What was going through your mind when you stabbed him?”
“I was scared – I didn’t know what I was doing,” he replied. “I didn’t mean to kill him or cause him serious harm – I was just trying to scare him.”
Mr Kealey asked the defendant if he had told any other of the co-accused that he was covered in ‘claret’ and he had ‘shivved’ Mr Clarkson.
The teenager replied: “No, I didn’t.”
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A post-mortem examination revealed that he had died as a result of blood loss after being stabbed in the abdomen.
Michael Richardson, 52, of Boddy Street, Bishop Auckland; Karl Jones, 45, of General Bucher Court, Bishop Auckland; Helen Jones, 43, of General Bucher Court, Bishop Auckland; Craig Dent, 42, of Gray Street, Eldon Lane; and the teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, are all on trial for murder.
Two members of the group, Dent and the 17-year-old have admitted manslaughter but continue to deny murder of Mr Clarkson outside his home on West Lane, Bishop Auckland, on November 29 last year.
The murder trial continues.
