Man accused of murdering Sean Mason said he saw him being killed but played no part

Sean Mason suffered a shocking catalogue of injuries during a brutal beating in May and died from head and facial injuries, murder jurors have been told.

Prosecutors claim Wayne Froud and Steven Milroy, who ran a "drug dealing enterprise", killed Mr Mason in a "retribution" beating because they suspected he, along with others, had stolen from them.

Milroy, 47, of Avondale Avenue, and Froud, 36, of Wensleydale Avenue, both in Penshaw, deny murder and are being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard the violence happened at Milroy's home in May.

Speaking from the witness box, Milroy told jurors he saw Froud subject Mr Mason to a brutal beating.

Milroy told the court when Mr Mason turned up at the flat, Froud answered the door and added: "There was no talking, Wayne just started."

Milroy said Mr Mason was dragged into the hallway and then kitchen by Froud and added: "I went into the sitting room because I didn't want to watch what was happening.

"He was getting filled in off Wayne.

"He dragged him into the sitting room.

"He hoyed him on the floor next to the settee.

"Wayne was kicking him in the face and I said 'howay, that's enough man' and he said 'I will ******* tell you when it's enough'."

Milroy said he "tried" to intervene but it seemed the attack "went on for a lifetime".

He said he then helped Froud, who had tried to put Mr Mason into a wheelie bin, take the injured man outside.

Milroy said Froud told him they needed to leave the flat as "Mason will be away telling the police".

When asked by his lawyer John Elvidge QC if he thought Mr Mason was dead, Milroy said: "No but he wasn't far away from it."

When asked why he didn't help Mr Mason, Milroy said: "I was scared. I don't know, in case I got the blame for it.

"I had seen someone get beat practically to death in front of my eyes, I was scared."

Milroy said he did not participate in or encourage the violence.

When asked by Mr Elvidge if he wanted Mr Mason to be killed, Milroy said: "Not in a million years, no."

From the witness box yesterday, Froud admitted he threw "about five" punches at Mr Mason.

Froud told the court after his attack on Mr Mason he left the flat and added: "He was alright, he was on his feet, he was standing."

It comes after the court was told Mr Mason was a "loveable rogue" who had been with his childhood sweetheart since they were just teenagers.

Jurors have heard statements from Mr Mason's partner Sharon Laing and the couple's youngest son, who was also called Sean.

Miss Laing told the court: "Although we never married were were lifelong partners.

"He was a loveable rogue."

The trial continues.

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