Teenager 'didn't think Bailey Atkinson attack would go as far as it did', murder trial told
One of the teenagers accused of murdering a man in Walsall town centre has told a court he "wanted to hurt" the 20-year-old in the moments before he was killed.
Bailey Atkinson was stabbed to death in the early hours of January 28 last year. Jurors had previously heard how he had suffered 65 different injuries to his body, including eight stab wounds, at the hands of nine teenagers in a "ferocious" attack.
During cross-examination at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, one of the teenagers, who cannot be named due to his age, said: "I wanted to hurt him", but said he didn't know how bad the attack would be.
"I just thought it would be a few bruises, I didn't think it would go as far as it did," the 17-year-old said.
Prosecutor William Hughes KC grilled the youngster about events leading up to the attack, and attack itself, as CCTV footage was shown to jurors.
When asked why he wanted to hurt Mr Atkinson, with whom the teenager said he had no issue, he said he was "not thinking straight".
The court heard how the defendant had been in a dark blue Seat Leon, one of two cars used to follow Mr Atkinson and to try and run him over, for several hours that day.
The teenager sat behind the driver, with three other passengers also in the hatchback, and was next to a red-handled machete.
He told jurors the plan for the evening was to 'drive about, get some food and have a laugh', and never asked anyone why it was in the car, telling the court he just 'kept himself to himself'.
The 17-year-old said he did not remember what the discussions were about in the car as they drove towards Walsall town centre, and he was in the back "doing balloons" (inhaling nitrous oxide).
CCTV footage shown to the court had shown the teenager being picked up by the Seat, and the five in the car rendezvousing with four more teenagers in a silver Toyota Verso at Asda in Darlaston. From there they went towards Asda town centre.
Jurors saw clips of both cars attempting to run over Bailey Atkinson in Walsall town centre on numerous occasions and trying to 'entrap' him.
In one clip the 17-year-old was opening his door of the Seat after the driver attempted to run Mr Atkinson over outside Poundland. He said he couldn't remember why he tried to get out.
The Seat and Toyota then pursued Mr Atkinson through the town centre, before five people got out. After the Toyota driver tried to run down Mr Atkinson, the teenager was then seen running with the machete in his hand.
"If you just wanted to cause a few bruises, why did you take it," Mr Hughes asked.
"It was blunt and rusty," the teenager replied.
"When did you have time to scrutinise the blade," the prosecutor asked, to which the defendant said it he had "seen it in the car".
When Mr Hughes said the teenager tried to hit Mr Atkinson, the defendant said he recalled "running up and trying to grab him".
Ronan McCulloch, 19, of Livingstone Road; Sonny Loveridge, 19, of Irvine Road; Benjamin Wilkes, 18, of Guild Avenue, all Bloxwich; Nvaah Whitter, 18, of Innovation Way, Beechdale and Patrick Brookes, 18, of Hunter Crescent, Harden, as well as a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds, all from Walsall, and another 17-year-old, from Marston Green, Birmingham, who cannot be named, all deny murder.
The trial continues.