Two teens on trial after denying skate park murder
Jack Edwards died two days after being attacked, the court heard
- Published
A man suffered "catastrophic" brain injuries after being hit in the head by a brick, a trial heard.
Jack Edwards - who had just been released from prison - was injured after a confrontation with a group at a skate park on Sussex Street, Nottingham, on 5 December last year.
The 24-year-old, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, died in hospital two days later.
Kai Howitt, 19, of Trent Boulevard in West Bridgford, and a 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have denied murder.
'Massive head injuries'
The trial, which opened at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, heard Mr Edwards had been released from HMP Ranby on the morning of 5 December.
After meeting a friend in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, they travelled to Nottingham, where Mr Edwards registered at a probation hostel before going out into town to celebrate his release.
His friend told police they went to the city's Christmas market before going to the skate park underneath the tramlines on Sussex Street.
Gordon Aspden KC, prosecuting the case, said Mr Edwards made "clearly offensive and crude" remarks to two passing teenage girls, who left the area before returning with a group of youths, some of whom were hooded and covering their faces.
"A confrontation quickly developed, with further shouting and arguing," he said.
Items including lighters, wood, and a yellow slippery surface sign were thrown at Mr Edwards, with CCTV also catching the moment he was hit on the head by a brick fragment thrown at him.
Two teenagers are on trial after denying murder
CCTV showed Mr Edwards collapsed after he was hit, the court heard, and one of two eyewitnesses who saw the dispute called 999 just before 19:00 GMT.
He was taken to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, but was pronounced dead two days later after not responding to treatment.
Mr Aspden said the deceased had suffered "catastrophic brain damage from which there could be absolutely "no recovery", adding a post-mortem examination found he had a fractured skull near the left ear.
"The skull in that area had been completely shattered," he said.
"Trauma had passed right down through the bone of the skull into the brain tissue itself."
While a toxicology report found traces of alcohol, cannabis and ecstasy in Mr Edwards, a cause of death was given as "massive head injuries", the court heard.
A brick fragment recovered from the scene, which weighed about 0.5kg and was shown to the jury in court, was found nearby, with forensic examination showing the deceased's hair and skin present on one side.
'Bricked to death'
The court heard the police investigation viewed CCTV footage from the surrounding area to trace two suspects, who were arrested on 6 and 8 December respectively.
Mr Aspden told jurors the defendants were "acting together, with each playing an important part" in the attack, adding they threw bits of brick "virtually simultaneously".
"As the CCTV shows, the defendants were not acting in lawful self-defence when they bricked Jack Edwards to death," he said.
"Although he may have egged them on, that doesn't make their actions lawful."
The trial continues.
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