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Murder accused said 'I beat man' Murder accused said 'I beat man'
(about 4 hours later)
A member of a gang accused of kicking a father of three to death told another teenager he had battered the victim, a court has heard.A member of a gang accused of kicking a father of three to death told another teenager he had battered the victim, a court has heard.
The witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court he had spoken to the defendants shortly after the attack.The witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court he had spoken to the defendants shortly after the attack.
Garry Newlove was attacked when he went to confront a gang vandalising vehicles near his home in Fearnhead, Warrington.Garry Newlove was attacked when he went to confront a gang vandalising vehicles near his home in Fearnhead, Warrington.
Four boys and Adam Swellings, 19, deny murder, at Chester Crown Court.Four boys and Adam Swellings, 19, deny murder, at Chester Crown Court.
The witness told the court he had bought 15 cans of Fosters lager and consumed "around eight" of them himself, later describing himself as "drunk-ish" to the jury. The witness said that that night, he was with friends at a parade of shops close to the scene of the attack when he heard a disturbance.
At about 2230 GMT that night, he was with friends at a parade of shops close to the scene of the attack when he heard a disturbance.
The defendant said to me, 'I've just battered a man - he's not moving Trial witnessThe defendant said to me, 'I've just battered a man - he's not moving Trial witness
He said: "I heard shouting and noises so I went to look at what was going on and the defendant and his mates came around the corner.He said: "I heard shouting and noises so I went to look at what was going on and the defendant and his mates came around the corner.
"The defendant said to me, 'I've just battered a man. He's not moving', or something like that.""The defendant said to me, 'I've just battered a man. He's not moving', or something like that."
The 47-year-old had gone out to confront a group of youths he believed were damaging cars - including his own - when the attack happened on 10 August, the court heard. The court also heard from police community support officer Stephen Bingham, who was on bicycle duty around Fearnhead park on the 10 August.
He had seized a bottle of cider from a 16-year-old defendant and stopped one of the 17-year-old defendants earlier that evening.
Later he was sent to the scene of the attack following a report of criminal damage.
No footwear
As he arrived at the road, he saw the boys he had stopped earlier and the 16-year-old told him he had seen a man lying in the road, the court heard.
Mr Bingham said; "The defendant said he had not seen anything apart from the man lying in the road."
"I noticed he was not wearing any footwear, and the other defendant - the 17-year-old was only wearing one training shoe."
The jury was told earlier that Mr Newlove was kicked with such force that a trainer belonging to one of his assailants became lodged beneath his body.
He suffered serious head injuries and never regained consciousness, dying in Warrington Hospital two days later.He suffered serious head injuries and never regained consciousness, dying in Warrington Hospital two days later.
The witness said the defendant was accompanied by two co-defendants, all of whom are under the age of 18 and cannot be identified. The boys - two aged 17, a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old, none of whom can be named for legal reasons - deny murder.
When police arrived at the scene the witness himself was arrested on suspicion of the assault of Mr Newlove.
Four boys - two aged 17, a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny murder.
Adam Swellings, of Crewe, Cheshire, denies murder but has admitted manslaughter.Adam Swellings, of Crewe, Cheshire, denies murder but has admitted manslaughter.