Jack Woodley, 18, was fatally injured after leaving a funfair in Houghton-le-Spring final October. The courtroom heard he was stabbed with a “Rambo-style knife” final October

Teen ‘murdered by gang of youngsters like zombies attacking an animal’, says witness

Ten youngsters accused of homicide have been “like zombies attacking an animal” as they allegedly killed their “terrified” sufferer, a witness mentioned.

The kids, aged between 14 and 18, are accused of a joint assault on Jack Woodley, who they’d by no means met earlier than the night time he was fatally injured.

Prosecutors say Jack, 18, was punched, kicked, stamped and stabbed with a “Rambo-style knife” after being surrounded after leaving a funfair in Houghton-le-Spring final October.

The accused, who can’t be named for authorized causes, deny homicide and are standing trial at Newcastle Crown Courtroom.

One in every of them has admitted the alternate cost of manslaughter, by stabbing him, Chronicle Reside experiences.

Prosecutor Mark McKone mentioned a person who knew Jack noticed a gaggle of “boisterous youths” and two of them approached Jack saying: “Are you saying you will hit my boys” and he replied saying “Why would I say that after I’m in a spot I do not know.”

Picture: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive) Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

He mentioned as they walked from the feast, Jack was surrounded they usually have been asking him for a “straightener”.

The witness informed police he stood between them and Jack and informed them “no-one is preventing Jack”.

He mentioned the group then searched him and Jack for knives, which they did not have.

He mentioned they then put their hoods up and adjusted their collars and began to circle them from behind and Jack was punched behind the pinnacle.

The witness mentioned he tried to separate Jack, who tried to defend himself, from the group however they “swarmed round Jack and immediately began punching him” He mentioned there was greater than 20 of them they usually began punching Jack “with most power”.

He added: “I attempted to defend him however they have been pulling me away. They may have hit me however they did not, they solely hit Jack.”

The person mentioned a lot of girls who tried to cease the violence have been assaulted. He mentioned Jack, who was from Durham, was on the ground, curled up in a ball and added: “He was so scared.

“There have been so many punches raining down on him. They have been brutal. Everybody within the group was kicking the life out of him, stamping on his head.

Picture: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive) Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

“The lads have been savagely attacking Jack like zombies attacking an animal. I bear in mind the terrified look on his face as he was being kicked, punched and stamped on.

“He tried to get away and I heard considered one of them say ‘get the chopper out’.”

He mentioned the final time he noticed Jack he was being chased down an alley and he added that the entire incident lasted seven to 10 minutes.

A girl who works in a pub subsequent to the place the alleged homicide occurred added: “It was like a herd of lions attacking a younger lad.”

One younger witness mentioned the youth who has admitted manslaughter had proven her a machete-like knife earlier that day and informed her he had stabbed two folks with it beforehand.

Mr McKone mentioned the witness informed how the younger males mentioned how they have been going to battle somebody that night time on the feast they usually “appeared fairly excited”.

The prosecutor mentioned “they’d no specific sufferer in thoughts at that stage” and Jack and the defendants weren’t identified to one another.

He added that the “group had been in search of a purpose or excuse to assault somebody”. The courtroom heard one younger witness mentioned somebody prompt Jack ought to have a one-on-one battle however Jack mentioned he did not need to battle.

Mr McKone mentioned the witness described somebody patting Jack right down to see if he had a knife, which he did not.

She added that the boys have been placing their hoods up and considered one of them put Jack in a headlock and punched him then six or seven others take part.

The witness mentioned: “They have been simply kicking him anyplace and in all places within the head and again and legs. They dragged him down a again alley.” She mentioned she noticed boys kicking Jack within the head whereas he was on the bottom.

Mr McKone mentioned: “Her proof highlights the vicious nature of the assault, together with group kicking to the pinnacle.”

One other younger girl mentioned a giant group of lads came visiting to Jack saying he had mentioned he was going to punch considered one of them however he informed them he hadn’t.

Mr McKone mentioned: “The prosecution say this was the group attempting to create a battle so they may assault him.”

The witness informed police she heard somebody shout “Get the chopper” and he or she noticed Jack run down an alley, the place she noticed him on his knees getting kicked.

She mentioned: “They have been kicking Jack correct arduous within the face and throughout his physique. They have been simply kicking him wherever they may.” She mentioned he was kicked and punched “like 30/40 occasions”.

She tried to intervene and pulled among the youngsters off him however mentioned she was then attacked by a woman and suffered a damaged nostril.

One other younger girl mentioned the youths have been attackinghim whereas he was crawling on the bottom and added: “They have been kicking him to dying.”

A witness who noticed the accused on the Houghton Feast mentioned mentioned they’d been “strolling spherical saying they have been going to hit folks” and one was standing on a bench saying “I’ll battle anyone” at one stage. After seeing them attacking Jack, she pulled considered one of them off him, saying “get off him, you’re killing him.”

One other witness described ten boys attacking Jack and mentioned: “They appeared very indignant. It appeared like they wished to harm him. It was not only a regular battle.”

The courtroom heard Jack died from a stab wound to the best facet of his again, which had penetrated his lung and prompted blood loss from the lung which prompted cardiac arrest. He additionally had two fractured vertebrae and a number of areas of bruising.

All ten youngsters deny homicide.

The trial continues.