Sandwell victim murder trial told of feud

A Sandwell businessman was stabbed to death outside a social club during a violent disturbance sparked by a bitter family dispute, a jury has heard.

Harry Broadhurst, who was the managing director of Metropolitan Fencing in Middlemore Road, West Bromwich, did not know those involved in the violence.

He was stabbed in the abdomen after two others were injured with a machete and a hammer, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Liam Cole, aged 29, Paul McAteer, 32, and Scott Smith, 40, all deny the murder of Mr Broadhurst, 22, of Henley-in-Arden, who was attending a boxing night at St Anne's Catholic Centre in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull.

Opening the prosecution case yesterday, Mr James Curtis QC alleged that McAteer and Smith were "recruited" by Cole to join an attack on his father, Eamon Crawford. Jurors heard that Mr Crawford left Cole's mother when he was six and then refused to acknowledge him as his son and pay child support.

The court heard Cole was enraged after hearing that his father wanted to end court proceedings involving the Child Support Agency by offering him a "cheap bung" of cash. Mr Crawford, then aged 46, suffered wounds to the abdomen, head and hand during the violence on November 20 last year.

Another customer at the club was hit on the head with a hammer, while Mr Broadhurst, who was at the front of a pursuing group as the attackers fled, died after he was stabbed.

Smith, of no fixed address; McAteer, of Crossfield Road, Kitts Green, Birmingham; and Cole, of Nearmore Road, Shard End, Birmingham, further deny conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Crawford.

The defendants have also denied wounding Mr Crawford with intent and assaulting the third alleged victim.

The trial continues.

By Lisa Wright