The jury must decide whether four men planned violence or went on a 'rescue mission'
The jury has now retired to consider whether four men planned violent disorder before travelling to Ormskirk with Matthew Daulby on the night he died. Matthew, 19, died after suffering head and chest injuries when he was struck with a rock and stabbed in a mass brawl on Railway Road.
The teenager was one of 10 men who travelled from Maghull in two cars after hearing that one of their friends had been assaulted on a night out in the town. During a trial at Preston Crown Court, the men, who can't be named for legal reasons, claimed they were on a "rescue mission" to collect their friend. But the prosecution said they went to "avenge" their friend and planned a "straightener" on Friday, July 28, last year, Lancs Live reports.
The court heard that following a video message from their friend to the boys M.R.S. Snapchat group, a 'blizzard of messages' followed and the group met at St Gregory's social club, known locally as 'The Gregs' and set off in two cars. They parked on the outskirts of the town centre and walked towards the Alpine Bar, where they believed the man who attacked their friend was. A large-scale fight erupted when they came upon him and two associates on Railway Road.
One of the Ormskirk men produced a knife and another, Henry Houghton, swung a rock in a sock at Matthew, causing a significant head injury which incapacitated him. Houghton has since been jailed for life for his role in Matthew's murder. Two of the Maghull defendants also suffered knife wounds with one being treated in hospital for his injuries.
Matthew's injuries were so severe he collapsed in Moorgate and was pronounced dead at Aintree University Hospital in the early hours of July 29. After hearing evidence from each of the four young men in the dock, the jury must decide whether they formed a violent plan before leaving 'The Gregs' or whether they went to make up numbers on a rescue mission. They all deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
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