Prescot Murder Accused Say Beating Was Self-Defence

By on Tuesday, December 3, 2013

rip_jonathan_fitchettTwo 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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