A man accused of murdering a burglar who had been caught raiding a neighbour’s flat in Wolverhampton shouted “Your life is in my hands” as he beat the dying victim, a court has heard.
Witness Jodie Granger said Michael Joyce, aged 19, “didn’t seem very bothered” as he attacked 37-year-old Alan Harris, pictured, in Wodensfield Tower, Wednesfield.
She also told a court how a gang urged the victim of the burglary, Lee Gannon, to stab Mr Harris with a steak knife.
Birmingham Crown Court has heard how Mr Harris, who also lived in Wodensfield Tower, stole DVDs and a TV from Gannon’s flat to fund his drug habit early on March 11 last year.
But he was caught red-handed by Gannon and two other men, Wayne Buchanan and Patrick Summers, when they returned from a night out in Walsall.
All five men are alleged to have attacked Mr Harris, who was stabbed in the leg and died from multiple injuries.
Joyce, who lives in the block, and neighbour 25-year-old Gannon deny murder.
Buchanan, 27, of Rushall Road, Northwood Park, Summers, 23, of Dudley Road, Wolverhampton, and Dale Francis, 19, of Wodensfield Tower, have also pleaded not guilty.
Miss Granger told Birmingham Crown Court yesterday she had been at a party at Joyce’s flat when word spread of “trouble upstairs at Gannon’s”.
She said: “Everyone went upstairs to see what was happening. I heard lots of shouting.
“I went into the flat and saw a man on the floor; he’d been beaten up. There was blood everywhere – on his face, down his top and his jacket. His arms were covering his face so they couldn’t hit his face.
Shouting
“I saw Lee Gannon standing by the man. He had a knife – a little knife like a steak knife.
“I told Gannon not to do anything, just leave him alone. He said that he should stab him. Everyone was shouting to stab him. Joycie was the worst.
“Everyone was just shouting for him to do it. I said I was going to phone an ambulance. They were shouting that I shouldn’t.” She said she felt “sick” when she saw Joyce kicking Mr Harris, who was groaning, in the stomach.
While in another room, she heard thuds and bangs as the victim was forced to tell his attackers where Gannon’s property was.
Later, the court heard, Mr Harris was dragged down to flat 50, where it was believed he had taken the stolen goods.
Miss Granger added: “Joyce was standing over him, shouting that his life was in his hands.
“He was dragging him down the stairs by his legs.
“He was being punched and kicked by Joyce in his stomach and his face.
“Joyce didn’t seem to be very bothered.”
The trial continues.
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