Derek Whyteside murder trial: Accused teenager shouted 'I've killed him', court told
A teenager accused of murdering a 42-year-old man with a cricket bat in a Telford street was heard shouting "I’ve killed him", a court was told.
Derek Whyteside died from a fractured skull after a single blow to the head on June 18 this year, Stafford Crown Court has heard.
The stepfather of four was killed after he went looking for two children’s bikes which had been taken from outside his home in Dawley, earlier that day.
Yesterday jurors heard that an argument broke out between Mr Whyteside and a group of people, and he was subsequently attacked from behind by a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Jurors were shown a video interview with a witness, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, who said she saw the teenager swing the bat at Mr Whyteside.
She said: “Me and my mate had been at her house listening to music all day. At about 3.45pm, we went out to meet our boyfriends.
The case so far:
“We were walking up to the shop and saw an argument but I didn’t know what was going on.
“Then he ran down the road behind the man with a cricket bat in his hand and whacked him in the head.
“I heard him shouting ‘I’ve killed him, I’ve killed him’.There was lots of blood on the floor.
“I heard the smack, it was so loud. I was really scared and didn’t know what to do.”
The witness also said she saw a man punch Mr Whyteside in the face and stamp on his stomach.
Earlier in the trial, the court heard Mr Whyteside had been chasing the teenager moments before the attack and was seen to be wearing a knuckleduster.
The teenager, who denies a single charge of murder, was arrested and told police he had acted in self defence.
He later claimed to have been defending his mother, the court heard.
The jury has heard that two other men, William Owens, 41, and Gareth Owens, 39, both of Boulton Grange, Randlay, Telford, had admitted charges of affray after striking Mr Whyteside as he lay on the ground.
The trial continues.
