Christmas Day alleged murder victim's phone had texts 'consistent with drug dealing'

Trey Johnson, also known by the nickname ‘Gaza’, died despite the efforts of paramedics to save his life after he sustained a single stab wound to the chest following a confrontation with Richard Beckles, aged 19, in Burcot Avenue, Eastfields at about 3.30am.

On Monday jurors at Wolverhampton Crown Court were read agreed facts by prosecutor Mr Mark Heywood KC. These included that the 30-year-old had a history of drug dealing and just over two ounces of cocaine estimated to value between £1,600-£2,400 was found in packaging in the drivers’ door.

The barrister said that Mr Johnson had previous convictions including in January 2021 for two counts of supplying class A drugs arising from a police county lines operation and that messages on a phone found in the car after the December 25 stabbing, had messages “consistent with drug dealing” up to Christmas Eve.

Richard Beckles, aged 19, of Stafford Street, Willenhall, and Tiego Beckles, aged 21, of Broad Gauge Way, Wolverhampton, are on trial accused of murdering and wounding him and of being involved in in two violent confrontations within 30 minutes.

The jury previously heard that at about 8.30pm the previous night Mr Johnson was caught on security cameras in a different altercation with a motorist outside the Merry Boys pub off Willenhall Road.

Then at about 3am Mr Johnson was involved in a fight with the defendants who were captured on CCTV punching, kicking and stamping on him outside city centre bar De Fusion in Exchange Street. Shortly afterwards the parties arrived separately, in Burcot Avenue, Eastfields, where there was another altercation resulting in the father-of-two being chased on foot and clashing with Richard Beckles, who then helped him to walk back up the road before injured Mr Johnson collapsed near the home of the brothers’ mother.

The jury has also heard that a neighbour stated that she was woken up by shouting and raised voices between 3am and 3.30am. The woman stated she saw Richard Beckles standing near a BMW and he was shouting towards his mother’s home and sounded “angry”. She stated she heard the words “I don’t care” before a male voice shouted back “I’m getting Mom”. The woman stated: “I believe that was the voice of Richard’s brother Tiego.”

She further stated: “I heard someone say I don’t give a s***. I don’t care about the video. The other voice said ‘I’m telling Mom’. Richard went out. The car wheel spun off the drive quickly down the street towards the shops.”

The witness said she noticed blue flashing lights outside shortly afterwards.

It is the prosecution case is that both defendants were armed during the chase and that Richard Beckles with a long knife while Tiego Beckles had what appeared to be a baseball bat. And that during the pursuit the alleged victim was stabbed, resulting in his death minutes later despite treatment at the scene.

A post mortem report found that Mr Johnson died from a deep wound to the chest that penetrated to the liver causing internal bleeding.

The defendants both deny murdering and wounding Mr Johnson, who also suffered a broken eye socket. Richard Beckles also denies possessing a knife. Tiego Beckles admits possessing a baseball bat.

The trial continues.