Men hunted victim 'like wolves'

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A 22-year-old man was killed by three men who hunted him through a Bridgend estate "like wolves", Cardiff Crown Court has heard.

Sean Barwick was followed through the Wildmill area by Gareth Barnard, Ashley Tresize and Rory McDonald as he walked home in August 2006, the jury was told.

The court heard the three embarked on an "unprovoked" attack, which left Mr Barwick with severe head injuries.

Mr Barnard and Mr Tresize, both aged 18, and Mr McDonald, 20, deny murder.

The court heard Mr Barwick was discovered lying in a road unconscious and covered in blood in the early hours of 5 August, and was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital, but died the following day.

These three defendants tracked him, like wolves stalking a deer Peter Murphy QC,

Peter Murphy QC, prosecuting, said on his way back to the home he shared with his parents, Mr Barwick had passed a group of people standing outside a block of flats.

According to police interviews, someone had shouted "all right?" to Mr Barwick, who was carrying a 4ft-long piece of floor panelling.

The court heard on Thursday that the three defendants, and two other friends not involved in the alleged attack, had then followed Mr Barwick for a quarter of a mile.

Someone had thrown an empty lager can to get Mr Barwick's attention, before the defendants had attacked him, the court heard.

All three had kicked him to the head, and it was "immaterial" who struck the fatal blow, Mr Murphy told the court.

Mr Barwick was found unconscious in the road by a taxi driver

He said: "Sean Barwick made a fatal mistake that night. He walked through this area and he had picked up a piece of wood, that he was carrying.

"These three defendants tracked him, like wolves stalking a deer.

"Their purpose was to attack him, and attack him they did.

"This was an unprovoked attack upon an obviously extremely drunk man, who was given no opportunity to defend himself."

In police interviews, Mr McDonald, from the town, had admitted head butting Mr Barwick, but said he was acting in self-defence, the court heard. Mr Tresize, from Porthcawl, told police he had grabbed Mr Barwick, causing him to fall, but said he thought he was going to attack Mr McDonald.

Mr Barnard had answered "no comment" when questioned by police, the court heard.

The trial continues.