Who are Michael Phillips' killers? Lee Darby, Neil Elliott and Anthony Small await sentence

After a six-week trial, Lee Darby was found guilty of the murder of Mr Phillips, 39, who died in his home in the town’s Rydal Street on June 10 last year.

Niramax boss Neil Elliott and Anthony Small were found guilty of manslaughter.

Four other men were cleared of all charges.

Here are the three men awaiting sentence…

LEE DARBY

Lee Darby, 32, of Ridley Court, Hartlepool, admitted being in the living room of Mr Phillips house but did not go into the witness box to answer any questions.

Known as ‘Dibsy’, the trial heard he had previous convictions for violence and a knuckle duster was his weapon of choice.

The prosecution said if someone in Hartlepool needed someone sorted, he was the one to speak to.

Prior to Mr Phillips death, Darby was contacted through Facebook by Neil Elliott, and the two had shown people CCTV footage believed to show the people who burgled Elliott’s daughter’s house that had been obtained from a Premier store in Cornwall Street.

Darby had also previously pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a prohibited weapon at an earlier hearing.

NEIL ELLIOTT

Neil Elliott, 44, of Briarfields Close, found guilty of manslaughter, was accused of being the ringleader who brought a gang of men together before going in search of the people responsible for stealing his daughter’s car in a burglary the previous night.

A director of Hartlepool waste recycling business Niramax, the jury was told he had two sides; one a community-spirited charity supporter, and another as someone prepared to dole out mob-handed ‘street justice’.

Following the theft of his daughter’s car, which was later found, he put a message on Facebook saying “How ever (sic) burgled my daughters house last night an took her car. Your life is about to change trust me”.

As well as starting Niramax, Elliott also founded energy company Seneca Global Energy Limited, based at Maritime House, on Hartlepool Marina.

Elliott was also said to be well respected at West Hartlepool Rugby Club and had donated cash from his company to fund wells and toilets in Tanzania.

He admitted punching Michael Phillips’ housemate Lee Hardwell but denied striking Mr Phillips. His barrister blamed co-defendant Lee Darby for Mr Phillips’ death.

ANTHONY SMALL

Anthony Small, 40, lived over the road from Michael Phillips and told the trial he classed him as a friend.

On the night of Mr Phillips’ death, Small met up with the other co-defendants and knocked on Mr Phillips’ front door.

It was said Small, Elliott and Darby quickly barged in followed by other co-defendants.

But Small, a drug user at the time, said he left soon afterwards and did not take part in any attack.

He said he felt guilty about the part he played in helping the others to get inside and claimed he did not know there would be violence.