Murder trial told of attack victim’s massive injuries

Ian Smith, 22, suffered injuries including fractures to his skull after he was chased down by some of the group in South Elmsall, near Pontefract, following an incident near a takeaway.

He was tripped to the ground and then repeatedly kicked and stamped on as he lay defenceless, Julian Goose, QC, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

One of the attackers, John Simon Richardson was armed with a pick axe handle which he raised above his head “and repeatedly brought it down with heavy blows” on Mr Smith’s head and neck, he said.

Mr Goose told the jury that Richardson had the handle visible from the start of the attack and it was the Crown’s case that each of the others knew or they believed that he would use it to cause really serious harm to Mr Smith if he caught up with him.

When they became involved in the joint attack “we say they had only one intention, either to kill or to cause really serious harm to the deceased.”

The jury has heard John Simon Richardson, 23, of Harrow Street, South Elmsall has admitted the murder of Mr Smith of Boycott Way, South Elmsall, on February 19 and accepted using the pickaxe handle.

His father, John Dean Richardson, 44, of Wakefield Road, Fitzwilliam, and three other defendants, Liam Ackroyd, 22, of Bell Lane, Ackworth, and Bradley Parkin, 22, and Neil Brown, 29, of Mallard Mews, South Elmsall, each deny murder and a less serious alternative charge of violent disorder.

Mr Goose told the court that Ian Smith had left the Army in 2009 after four years, returning to live with his parents. At the time of his death he was working at Netto’s warehouse on South Elmsall Industrial Estate.

During the evening of February 18, he and other family members were celebrating a relative’s recent 60th birthday at the British Legion Club in South Kirkby,

At about 10pm Mr Smith took a taxi to South Elmsall with his brother Stephen and the pair were drinking in the Plough Inn, the Moorthorpe Hotel and the Little Un until about 1am.

Mr Goose said his brother described Mr Smith as being affected by drink but said he was “merry and in a good mood” when they separated.

Mr Smith intended to see his friend Sarah Brook and spent eight minutes talking to her on the phone from 1.35am, arranging to meet her near the Mega Love takeaway at the junction of High Street and Barnsley Road.

When he got there he was told there was no more food being served but another friend, David Womack, had bought the last order and called him back as he walked away, giving him a share of his food.

Mr Goose told the jury it was then that an argument developed between Mr Smith and John Dean Richardson, who had already rung a flat in Mallard Mews where his son and others were enjoying a party allegedly asking for help because of an incident involving other youths.

“One of the witnesses described John Dean Richardson trying to take some chips from the deceased, who became annoyed,” he told the court.

“Whatever the cause of the dispute the deceased punched John Dean Richardson twice and pushed him to the ground.”

He suggested to the court that Richardson senior was angry but knew help was arriving from his earlier call. When he saw his son driving up in a pick-up he allegedly told Mr Smith “Now it’s your turn.”

Ackroyd was a passenger in that vehicle and after it was driven on to the pavement the pair got out and began to chase Mr Smith who, on seeing them arrive, had run off.

Mr Goose said Park and Brown were following them in a Citroen Berlingo van and they also joined the chase.

Mr Smith was faster than his four pursuers but circled back towards the takeaway where he was tripped and brought to the ground by John Dean Richardson, allowing the other four to catch up.

The violence only stopped when Mr Womack shouted that the police were coming. Efforts were made to save Mr Smith’s life but he was pronounced dead at 3.35am.

The trial continues.