Gordon Gault: Murder-accused teens 'discussed stabbing rivals'

Gordon Gault died from his wounds six days after being stabbed

Teenagers accused of murdering a 14-year-old boy sent messages saying they wanted to stab rivals, jurors heard.

Gordon Gault died in hospital six days after being stabbed with a machete in Newcastle in November 2022.

Six youths, now aged between 16 and 18, deny murdering him during a brawl.

Prosecutors said the defendants were part of a group who had "beef" and used "tit for tat violence" against other young people in Newcastle, the city's crown court heard.

The court heard Gordon was fatally stabbed in the arm by Carlos Neto, now 18 but then aged 17, on 9 November 2022 during a confrontation between two groups.

Jurors have been read messages from a Snapchat stream allegedly involving some of the defendants, and others said to be part of the same group, in the weeks before the killing.

In them they discuss rivalries with several other people, referred to as "ops" meaning enemies or rivals, and carrying out arranged fights and attacks.

The trial is due to last up to six weeks at Newcastle Crown Court

In one message, when discussing fighting people, Mr Neto said it was a "kill or be killed world", prosecutor Christopher Moran said.

He also talked about people being "smoked" or killed and said he despised associates of Gordon, adding: "I will exterminate them."

Mr Neto also allegedly said he would carry a knife and his rivals shouldn't "underestimate" him or believe he would not use it.

In another message he said no-one else could "hack" or handle the feuding, even older group members, adding: "We are powerful."

'Hot beef'

One of the group said it would be "embarrassing" to lose a fight in front of a girlfriend, to which Mr Neto replied: "I don't lose fights."

He also said the feuding was "character building" and there would be "no remorse" shown to enemies.

In other messages, his friends said Mr Neto was "building a nice list" of people he had "had" in fights.

One of his co-accused, a 17-year-old boy who cannot be identified, apparently said in a message the feuds got him "excited" and would involve "choppers", which Mr Moran said meant knives.

The prosecution also alleged another accused, Daniel Lacerda, 18, had said the "beef was way too hot" and he was carrying a knife "everywhere", adding: "Better to be with it than without it."

He also said he would join a "glide", which Mr Moran said was a "drive into enemy territory", while co-accused Lawson Natty, 18, said he would be "down for whatever".

The six defendants also deny wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a 17-year-old boy who was slashed in the back during the 9 November melee.

Two of the defendants, aged 16 and 17, are unable to be identified, but the remaining four, all aged 18, are:

• Carlos Neto of Manchester Road East, Manchester

• Benedict Mbala of St John's Walk, Newcastle

• Lawson Natty of Eastgarth, Newbiggin Hall Estate, Newcastle

• Daniel Lacerda of Paddock Close, Ferryhill

The trial continues.