Harry Baker murder trial: Defendant planned to 'get rid of evidence'

Six men and a 16-year-old boy are accused of murdering Harry Baker

A defendant accused of murdering a 17-year-old boy talked about burning his clothes "to get rid of evidence", a court heard.

Harry Baker from Cardiff was found dead at a freight container port in Barry Docks, Vale of Glamorgan, on 28 August.

Witness Lyndon Matthews told Newport Crown Court he also heard Peter McCarthy phone his mother to say he "may be arrested for murder".

Six men and a boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny murder.

Leon Clifford, 22, Leon Symons, 21, both of no fixed address, Raymond Thompson, 47, Lewis Evans, 61, Ryan Palmer, 33, Mr McCarthy, 36, all from Barry, and a 16-year-old boy, are on trial charged with Harry's murder.

Mr Matthews told the court that during a car journey the day after the murder, he heard Mr McCarthy on the phone to his mother.

"He told his mum he may be arrested for murder, but he didn't do it," Mr Matthews said.

"He said 'if the police come to the house I will hand myself in, as I don't want to upset the family in the house'."

'You idiot'

Mr Matthews told jurors he did not know who Mr McCarthy was speaking to on a second phone call while in the car.

"He said 'You idiot' to the person on the phone. 'Why didn't you throw the knife in the docks? Why did you throw it into a hedge?'" Mr Matthews said.

The court also heard how another of the defendants confessed during a phone call to stabbing Harry.

Giving evidence, Jessica Davies, the ex-girlfriend of Mr Clifford, told the court: "He said he stabbed him."

A second witness, Whitley Andrews, said she was with Ms Davies when she made the phone calls.

"I heard him say, 'I stabbed Harry twice'," she said.

The jury was previously told Harry was involved in a drug feud and killed in a "swift, bloody and merciless knife attack" after a chase through Barry.

Mr Clifford told police he climbed into the compound and stabbed Harry, the court has heard. He admits manslaughter.

Mr Palmer, Mr Symons, Mr McCarthy, Mr Thompson and the boy also deny violent disorder. Mr Evans denies a charge of assisting an offender.

The trial continues.