Businessman charged with murder of Hartlepool man Michael Phillips denies 'protecting Neil Elliott'

The 39-year-old died on Monday, June 10, last year following an attack inside a house in Rydal Street in the town.

Mr Phillips sustained more than 50 injuries in the assault, including a number to his head and torso and despite emergency services’ efforts to save him he died on the same night.

Lee Darby, 32, of Ridley Court, Neil Elliott, 44, of Briarfields Close, Gary Jackson, 31, of The Darlings, in Hart Village, John Musgrave, 54, of Wordsworth Avenue, Sean Musgrave, 30, also of Wordsworth Avenue, Anthony Small, 40, of Rydal Street, and Craig Thorpe, 36, of Young Street, all deny murder.

Elliott and Darby also deny burglary.

Cross-examining Jackson, Nicholas Johnson said Jackson and Elliott had both been driving in the same area within about a minute of each other after Elliott’s daughter’s car had been stolen.

He said: "What I am suggesting you are both doing is you are driving around, looking for the burglars, even after the car has been found.”

Jackson replied: "No, that is not right."

Discussing a telephone conversation between Jackson and Elliott, Mr Johnson said: "I am suggesting this call of 20.40 is crucial.

"He is saying 'We are closing in, get here quickly'."

Jackson responded: "That was not my intention at all."

Mr Johnson QC said Jackson knew Neil Elliott was showing people CCTV and asked: "What did you possibly think he was doing that for?"

Jackson answered: "Showing people the footage? To see if they could identify who was in it."

Jackson has said he did not see any weapons and denied that he was armed himself and said: "I have never carried a weapon in my life."

He said he had seen a Facebook post by Neil Elliott which said the burglars' lives were about to change but had not believed there was any risk of violence.

Mr Johnson asked him: "You are not protecting Mr Elliott?"

He responded: "I would not protect anybody in the situation I am in."

The trial continues.