Man found friend bleeding to death in car - court

Colin Richards, 48, was found unconscious in Ely, Cardiff, after reports of a disturbance

A man died after being stabbed in his leg in a car following a confrontation with a group wielding knives, a court has heard.

Colin Richards, 48, was found unconscious in Ely, Cardiff, after a disturbance was reported on the night of 7 April 2024.

Mr Richards, a father of seven, had a 10cm (3.9in) deep wound which severed his femoral artery and vein. Cardiff Crown Court heard he bled to death within a minute.

Corey Gauci, 19, from Ely, denies murder.

Five other defendants deny violent disorder, assisting an offender and having possession of a bladed article.

The court heard that Mr Richards was the friend of Christian Morgan, 36, who had received threatening messages from a former girlfriend, Noreen O'Driscoll, 29.

Prosecution barrister David Elias KC told the jury that Ms O'Driscoll was "getting her brothers or the boys to sort him out".

The jury was told that, fearful of his car getting damaged, Mr Morgan moved his car while calling Mr Richards to join him.

Mr Elias told the court that Ms O'Driscoll, along with James O'Driscoll, Corey Gauci, Rebecca Ross and Soraya Somersall gathered near where Mr Morgan lived with "a plan to do him harm".

The court heard Mr O'Driscoll and Mr Gauci were armed with blades.

When Mr Morgan and Mr Richards arrived in the street, they were armed with a knife and a hammer respectively.

Mr Elias said CCTV shows Mr Gauci and Mr O'Driscoll close to a car "armed with knives and wearing balaclavas".

When Mr Morgan and Mr Richards arrived, Mr Elias said damage was done to the car before the pair were chased by Mr Gauci and Mr O'Driscoll.

It is alleged Mr Morgan ran away and was chased by Mr O'Driscoll, while Mr Richards tried to get back to his car in a neighbouring street while being pursued by Mr Gauci.

The prosecution said CCTV showed figures moving around the car before one gets into the passenger seat.

No blood was found on the area around the car and Mr Elias said the wound "must have been caused when Colin Richards was close to the car seconds before he got into the passenger seat".

CCTV shows those present quickly leaving the scene before Mr Morgan returned to the car. The court heard he found his friend motionless with his hammer beside him.

The jury was told that Mr Gauci and Mr O'Driscoll were driven from the scene by Ms Somersall before going on the run for three weeks. They were arrested together in Stoke-on-Trent on 27 April.

The court heard that the other defendants were seen disposing of knives and a machete around the area in the hours that followed before being arrested later on 8 April.

• Corey Gauci of Wilson Road, Ely, denies murder and violent disorder

• James O'Driscoll of no fixed abode, denies violent disorder and possession of a bladed article

• Christian Morgan of Heol y Berllan, Caerau, denies violent disorder and possession of a bladed article

• Rebecca Ross of Newark Road, Lincoln, denies possession of a bladed article and assisting and offender

• Soraya Somersall of Loudoun Square, Cardiff, denies assisting an offender

• Noreen O'Driscoll of Parker Road, Ely, denies assisting an offender

The case continues and is due to last up to eight weeks.