Michael Phillips murder trial: Jury to continue deliberations over verdicts next week

The jury has been released for the weekend after almost a day of deliberations.

Seven men are on trial charged with the murder of the 39-year-old in his Rydal Street home last year.

The defendants 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.

Darby and Elliott also deny burglary and Elliott denies assault.

During a six-week trial the jury has heard evidence from the prosecution and each of the seven defendants’ barristers and then the summing up from His Honourable Justice Jacobs.

The judge finished his summing up and legal directions on Friday morning and the jurors were sent out to start their deliberations.

Addressing the jury, he said: “It is important that you try to reach verdicts which are unanimous.

"You have probably heard of majority verdicts but please put them out of your mind for the moment.

"For the moment concentrate on reaching a unanimous verdict, you can take as long as you need."

The trial began in mid-January and the jury has been listening to the events leading up to and after the death of Mr Phillips, who died after sustaining more than 50 injuries in an assault inside his home.

Emergency services were called to the property around 9pm on Monday, June 10, following reports of a disturbance.

Mr Phillips, who was conscious when police arrived on the scene, died despite the efforts of paramedics and officers, who spent 40 minutes trying to save him following his collapse.

The medical evidence given during the trial stated Mr Phillips had died after sustaining injuries to his torso and head.

A pathologist found he had sustained more than 50 injuries, including broken ribs.

The case centres around events after a burglary at Elliott’s daughters’ home, where one of their cars was taken and later recovered, and efforts to track down the thieves, which led the men to Rydal Street.

Mr Justice Jacobs reminded jurors it was clear from CCTV that Mr Phillips and his friend Lee Hardwell, who was in the house at the time of the attack, were not involved.

All seven men have denied carrying out any attack on Mr Phillips. Darby and Elliott admitted being in the living room at 38 Rydal Street, Small says he left straight away, Jackson said he only went into the porch area and Sean Musgrave, John Musgrave and Thope deny ever being in the house.

The trial has been adjourned until Monday at 11am.