Niramax boss Neil Elliott says he didn't intend to cause anyone serious harm as gives evidence in Michael Phillips murder trial

Seven men, who all deny murder, have been charged with killing Mr Phillips, who was 39, in an attack where he received more than 50 injuries in a property on Rydal Street, Hartlepool.

The seven men are: Lee Darby, 32, of Ridley Court; Neil Elliott, 44, of Briarfield 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 men are all standing trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The case centres on events following the theft of Elliott’s daughter’s car.

On Tuesday, February 4, the defence began their case and Elliott took to the witness stand where he was questioned by defence barrister Nicholas Johnson QC.

The court heard of the Elliott's family relations and career history where Elliott explained how he founded two companies - a waste management company called Niramax, based in Hartlepool, and energy company Seneca Global Energy Limited, based at Maritime House, in Hartlepool Marina.

The court then heard Elliotts account of the sequence of events that lead up to the death of Michael Phillips.

Elliott was asked about the Facebook post that was made by him on the morning he received the call from his daughter about the burglary of her car.

The post had said in regards to whoever stole his daughter's car - 'your life is going to change, trust me'.

Elliott said he had been on Facebook at the time he received the call from his daughter about what had happened and that he was 'angry'.

He said: "I just wrote it because it was in front of me to write it. I used social media to vent frustration at that moment."

The court then heard how later that day the car was found, but that Elliott wanted to try and find out who had stolen the car so that "he could inform police so that they could find keys, property and money."

The court heard how Elliott managed to obtain CCTV footage which he said he asked John Musgrave to collect before driving to his home to view it.

Elliott said he viewed the CCTV in his car and that Craig Thorpe and Sean Musgrave were outside looking in.

After watching the CCTV in his car, Elliott said he then asked John Musgrave if he fancied a drive to Oxford Road to see if there was anyone wearing a black Canada Goose jacket - which was stolen from his daughter's car.The court then heard about when Elliott arrived at a house on Rydal Street.

Elliott said they had called at one house and showed them the CCTV and it was there that the occupants said it could be 'Micky Phillips.'

The jury heard how Elliott then made his way to a second house and Elliott that his intention was to show them the video and to see if there was anything obvious in the house that was from the burglary.

Elliott said a man called Mr Hardwell was at the property and that he was 'aggressive' when asked about the burglary.

The court heard that Elliott punched Hardwell in face.

Elliott told the court that he didn't see fighting apart from one punch by Darby and said he did not know how Michael Phillips ended up on the floor by the fish tank.

He told the jury that he didn't see anyone with a weapon and said he didn't intend to cause anyone serious harm.

He said he didn't believe anyone was injured or seriously injured when he left the house.

The trial will continue on Wednesday, February 5, at 10.30am.