Prescot Murder Accused Say Beating Was Self-Defence

Two men accused of murdering a 22-year-old Prescot man have pleaded not guilty.

Jonathan Fitchett died on Friday 12 July this year from injuries he received the previous afternoon, when he was beaten in front of shoppers at Cables Retail Park, Prescot.

Gerard Childs, 27, of Rainhill, and Stephen Price, 28, of Prescot, were charged with murder the following weekend, but both have pleaded not guilty, saying they were acting in self-defence.

The prosecution, however, said that CCTV footage, shown to the jury, showed a “ferocious” attack initiated by Childs, with Price soon joining in.

Fitchett had gone to the retail park to buy a football for his girlfriend’s nephew, the court was told, and was confronted by Childs outside JD Sports. Childs and Price continued the assault even after Fitchett fell unconscious to the ground.

A witness described the incident as “extremely violent.”

One of the accused is alleged to have leaned over Fitchett as he laid on the ground and said, “You won’t do that again, will you?”

The trial continues.

Image: Tributes to Jonathan Fitchett at the scene of the alleged murder

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3 Comments

1. 

   sharon

   Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 11:22 pm

   my heart aches

   Reply
2. 

   Petermarcus

   Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 3:31 pm

   Disgusts me that these 2 are breathing in air
   Bet they didn’t know they had been caught on camera. Thought they would get away with it. Hope they rot in hell. Scumbags

   Reply
3. 

   Lisa

   Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 6:12 pm

   How on earth can these defence lawyers stand there and argue the toss trying to set these scum bags free when it’s all there on cctv? Do we need to waste time and money on them? Lock them up n melt the key. Human rights end once you turn into an animal. My heart goes out to family and friends. RIP. Xx

   Reply