Killers dumped victim in gutter to die after 'horror story' attack

Christopher Hills, left, and Paul Watson, right.

Christopher Hills, 30, of Gregory Terrace, Houghton, and Paul Watson, 30, of The Crescent, Chester-le-Street, launched a savage beating on Michael Price, who suffered 29 separate injuries, then dragged him into the street and left him, battered and bleeding.Newcastle Crown Court heard the 36-year-old died in hospital 11 days after the attack in January, as a result of traumatic brain injury sustained during the violence.

Prosecutor Nick Dry told the court the men were linked to the attack, which happened at a house in Victor Street, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, within hours and traced to a nearby property in the same street.When the pair realised detectives were at the door and about to force their way in, the men jumped together from a first-floor bathroom in a bid to get away.Watson was arrested at the scene and Hills was detained following a manhunt.During their trial, Watson had minimised his involvement in the violence but told jurors the attack by Hills had been like "something out of a horror story".Hills, who had been on the streets just one month after serving over a decade behind bars from an indeterminate sentence imposed for unrelated offences of aggravated burglary and making threats to kill, had claimed he had been asleep at a different house when the killing of Mr Price took place.Both men were convicted of murder after less than two hours deliberation by jurors.Judge David Hatton QC has now sentenced both men to life behind bars.The two killers appeared separately in the dock to learn their fate, after previous incidents of violence between them while on remand.Watson was told he must serve a minimum term of 17 years behind bars before he can apply for parole.The judge told him: "This was a vicious and brutal killing. Why it occurred, I don't know."Your victim was subjected to prolonged and sustained violence which involved numerous blows to his body and head, a significant number of stamps were inflicted upon his head from shod feet and and knuckle duster was also used."Judge Hatton said he accepted the murder was not premeditated but added: "In my judgement there was certainly, ultimately, as the violence continued, an intention to kill."The judge said Watson was "influenced to some degree" by Hills.Hills, who the judge said is an "exceedingly violent man" who has many previous convictions, was told he must serve at least 22 years before he can apply for parole.Judge Hatton told Hills: "After he suffered devastating injuries he was dragged into the street where he was dumped in the gutter in the early hours."He was shown no mercy. There has been no remorse."The court heard Mr Price was found in the street after the emergency services received an anonymous call at around 5.30am on January 13.Mr Dry said: "They received an anonymous call, reporting the presence of a man lying on the road, on a residential area in Chester-le-Street."The caller said the man did not appear to be breathing and that he had not moved."The court heard the woman caller hung up before giving any further information.When paramedics found him he was "badly beaten and initially thought to be dead" but was treated at the roadside and then transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle after a pulse was found.He died in hospital on January 24.Mr Dry told jurors the offence took place "within the context of a drugs background".He told jurors forensic evidence indicates " a sustained attack" upon Mr Price in the front room of the house where he was beaten.Mr Dry said Mr Price's blood was found on the attackers' shoes and their footwear left imprints on the victim's body and clothing.Watson and Hills had denied murder throughout.