Judge issues jury directions in case of defendants accused of murdering Matthew Adams
Summing up has begun in the case of five people who are on trial for their part in the death of a man from West Bromwich who died in the aftermath of a pub fight.
The fatal attack on Matthew Adams took place outside the Gough Arms on the Yew Tree Estate in the early hours of March 19 2023.
Four males - Ryan Stanley aged 30, John Wise, Mark Shorthouse aged 55 and a 16-year-old boy who can't be named, all from Sandwell deny murder, manslaughter and violent disorder. Shorthouse has already pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
A female, Nicola Stanley, aged 39 has been charged with violent disorder and pleaded not guilty.
The case concerns a brawl which broke out in the pub and spilled over into the car park band ended up with Mr Adams knocked out after allegedly being kicked and punched in what the court heard was a 'sustained attack' - he died of his injuries four days later after refusing to seek medical treatment.
The trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court is now into its fourth week and Judge Michael Chambers started addressing the jury on Monday afternoon, with summing up and prosecution and defence arguments expected to take up to three days.
He told the jury they would have to decide whether each defendant participated in the attack on Mr Adams and whether their actions either caused his death or at least contributed to causing him serious harm.
Judge Chambers said: "To find the defendants accused of murder guilty you have to be satisfied they had played a more than substantial part in his death.
"You will also have to decide whether the acts of which they are accused contributed significantly to his death, and if not you must find them not guilty."
The case resumes today (Tuesday).
