Connor Brown murder trial: Accused tells jury he was 'absolutely blotto' on night Sunderland teen was killed but did not see a knife

A man on trial for murder has told jurors he was "absolutely blotto" on the night of the killing and "didn't know anyone had a knife".
By Karon Kelly
Published 21st Nov 2019, 14:22 BST
Updated 21st Nov 2019, 17:29 BST
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Ally Gordon is accused of being part of Leighton Barrass's fatal attack on Connor Brown, who was stabbed five times in an alleyway in Sunderland in the early hours of February 24.

Prosecutors claim Barrass inflicted the knife injuries on the 18-year-old victim and Gordon "encouraged and assisted" him by kicking and stamping.

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Barrass, 20, of Hartside Square and Gordon, 20, of Polmuir Road, both Sunderland, deny murder and are being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.

The trial of Leighton Barrass and Ally Gordon, who deny the murder of Connor Brown, inset, continues at Newcastle Crown Court.The trial of Leighton Barrass and Ally Gordon, who deny the murder of Connor Brown, inset, continues at Newcastle Crown Court.
The trial of Leighton Barrass and Ally Gordon, who deny the murder of Connor Brown, inset, continues at Newcastle Crown Court.

Jurors have heard Gordon travelled to Scotland after the killing and was arrested in Edinburgh.

He was then taken to Southwick police station where he was interviewed in the early hours of February 25.

Gordon told detectives: "Someone was killed and I was there, I can't put it any simpler".

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He added: "I'm telling you nowt apart from I haven't ******* done it'."

When asked to explain what had happened, Gordon replied: "What do you think ******* happened, he got stabbed and he's dead."

Gordon told police he had had a fight in the lane that night, with a group who were being "cheeky" and got hit on the back of the head.

He added: "I can't really remember much, to be honest.

"I can remember a couple of them getting into my mate.

"I helped him, that's it."

When questioned about who the "mate" was, Gordon said: "You know who he is, he got charged for this, I sat and watched you arrest him."

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Gordon said the males who were attacking Barrass had been "hitting him and that".

He added: "I honestly can't remember much, I was absolutely blotto."

Gordon said he could remember he "tried to pull people off" his pal Barrass and was "trying to boot them off".

He added: "No-one had a knife.I didn't know anyone had a knife, I never seen a knife."

The court heard when Barrass was taken to the police station he made comments such as "I can't believe I did that by accident" and "I didn't intend to stab him, he ran into me".

The trial continues.