Connor Brown murder trial: What happened on day five of hearing

The trial of Sunderland men Leighton Barrass and Ally Gordon has reached a pause today, Tuesday, November 18, at Newcastle Crown Court following the evidence of Dr Jennifer Bolton and Dr Diana Garside, a forensic toxicologist.

The 20-year-old defendants deny the murder of 18-year-old doctors’ receptionist Connor Brown on Sunday, February 24, this year.

The court has been told that Connor died despite the extensive efforts of St John’s Ambulance volunteers, paramedics and an emergency department consultant, who were called to the scene in the back lane between Gatsby’s and Park Lane where he had collapsed.

The court has previously been told Connor got into a fight with Barrass, of Hartside Square, Hylton Lane Estate, after the defendant was involved in an altercation with Stephen Nunn over a £5 note.

There was an initial fight between Connor and Barrass before they clashed again, with Connor left with five stab wounds and a series of other injuries.

It has been said Gordon, of Polmuir Road in Plains Farm, landed kicks while Connor – who had been out celebrating a mate’s birthday and had watched a boxing match in a pub during the afternoon - was on the ground.

This is what the court was told on the fifth day of the trial.

It will resume at 10am on Wednesday, November 20.

Jury told of wounds caused by a knife

Dr Bolton, who carried out a post mortem examination on Connor, went into great detail about the injuries she found on Connor.

She also talked about what had been done in an effort to save him.

The stab wounds included one to his torso, which caused damage to his heart, explaining how it led to his death and would have caused him to collapse.

She also detailed wounds to his side, shoulder and to his back.

Some of these had caused serious damage to his insides and to bones, with “mild to moderate” force used to cause these.

During cross-examination, Mr Jonathan Whitfield QC and Dr Bolton discussed how force can be caused by someone going forward with a weapon, as well as someone moving towards it if it is supported.

Mr Whitfield highlighted how on the CCTV, there was a lot of movement going on during the fight.

Dr Bolton could find no signs Connor had been kicked.

Knives shown to the courtroom

Two knives, both 90mm, were produced by the prosecution and were handed to Dr Bolton to view, to the Judge, Mr Justice Lavender and to the jury to look at.

One, termed a joker knife, was found at the scene had a smooth blade, the other, an Anglo Arms lock knife found on Gordon when he was arrested, had a serrated section on it.Dr Bolton was able to say that the injuries were consistent with the one found at the scene, but it was agreed it could have been a similar knife.