Wearside dad could have survived injuries if he had been helped sooner, murder jury told

Sean Mason, 55, was subjected to a "catalogue of horrific acts" and suffered multiple sites of injury to his head and body, internal injuries including broken bones and brain damage before being dumped outside.

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 Mr Mason's body was found on a grassed area outside the flats at Avondale Avenue in the early hours of May 16 after his son got concerned and went to check on him.

Prosecutors claim the deadly violence took place in and around Milroy's home.

Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Nigel Cooper, who conducted the post mortem, has described the long list of injuries Mr Mason suffered.

Dr Cooper said Mr Mason was "unresponsive" when he was found on the grassed area but circulation was re-established after CPR was performed at the scene.

The court heard Mr Mason stopped breathing again and his heart stopped in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

He was pronounced dead at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Dr Cooper said Mr Mason "died from head and facial injuries" and explained blood had filled the injured man's airway.

The pathologist said brain injuries may have "contributed" to Mr Mason's death but were not inevitably fatal.

Prosecutor Kama Melly QC asked Dr Cooper if Mr Mason's death was "inevitable" as a result of the catalogue of injuries he suffered.

The doctor said: "There is certainly a reasonable possibility, had someone got there early on and protected his airway, he could have survived the injuries."

The court heard Mr Mason had amphetamine, a valium-type drug, methadone, cannabis and caffeine in his blood when he died.

Dr Cooper said the amphetamine was at a "high level" which could have proved deadly for a first time user but not to someone with tolerance.

The doctor added: "It is a level that could be normal for someone but for someone who had never taken it before it could be fatal."

The trial continues.

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.