Michael Phillips murder trial: Jury hears of moment defendant Craig Thorpe hands himself into police

Michael Phillips, 39, died on the evening of Monday, June 10, 2019, following an attack inside a house in Rydal Street in the town.

Mr Phillips had sustained more than 50 injuries in the assault, including a number to his head and torso.

Mr Phillips had sustained more than 50 injuries in the assault, including a number to his head and torso.

Despite emergency services trying for 40 minutes to save him, Mr Phillips sadly died.

The defendants standing trial are 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.

The trial, which has been running for a month at Teesside Crown Court, resumed on Monday, February 17, as defendant Craig Thorpe gave his evidence.

The trial, which has been running for a month at Teesside Crown Court, resumed on Monday, February 17, as defendant Craig Thorpe gave his evidence.

The court heard of his movements before he arrived on Rydal Street, with Thorpe telling the court that he had been at Sean Musgrave's home when he was asked by John Musgrave to go to Westbourne Road to pick something up for Neil Elliott.

Asked: "Did you know Neil Elliott at that time?" Thorpe replied 'no'.

The court was told that after going to Westbourne Road, Thorpe came back to continue taking Sean and John Musgrave.

Elliott was then said to have turned up in a black Mercedes and Thorpe, along with John and Sean Musgrave, went to see Elliott in his car.

He said that he then went to go home but John Musgrave shouted him back. Thorpe said: "John Musgrave shouted back and said do you want to go for a ride out? "

Thorpe told the court: "I just said yeah."

He said that on the way they picked up Lee Darby, who Thorpe said was not a friend, but that "he knew who he was."

The court heard how the group then stopped at the Premier Store on Cornwall Street. The group then drove to Keswick Street and walked to Rydal Street.

The court was told the group went to a house on the street which Elliot, Darby and Small went in.

Thorpe said he was "possibly in the passageway" of the house.

He told the court that Small, Darby and Elliott went to a second house on the street while he remained outside of the first house talking to the man in it.

Asked if he was expecting any trouble at all, Thorpe replied "no." He said he remained out in the street.

Later the court heard how Thorpe had spoken to John Musgrave on the phone and the pair decided to hand themselves into police.

Thorpe confirmed that he was in the police station with John Musgrave but at that point there was no warrant for their arrest.

Asked: "At that stage did you think you had done anything wrong?" Thorpe replied: "I didn't, no."

The trial continues.