The jury in the trial of six teenagers accused of the murder of Gordon Gault have been sent home for a second night after failing to reach verdicts in the case.

Trial judge, Mr Justice Martin Spencer, sent the jury panel out to continue deliberations at Newcastle Crown Court at 10am today (Wednesday January 10) but then thanked them for their work and sent them home, again, shortly after 4.30pm.

They were asked to return to court to continue their deliberations at 10am tomorrow (Thursday January 11).

The jury originally retired following conclusion of the judge’s summing up and legal directions shortly after 3pm on Tuesday.

The Northern Echo: Trial of six teenagers accused of the murder of 14-year-old Gordon Gault has begun at Newcastle

All six defendants stand accused of the murder of 14-year-old Gordon and wounding with intent a 17-year-old associate of the deceased.

The charges arose from violence between rival groups of youths from neighbouring areas in the West End of Newcastle, on November 9, 2022.

It was said to have been the culmination of mounting tit-for-tat violence and threats between the rival groups, linked to the Benwell and Elswick areas of the city.

The Northern Echo:

The trial has heard that Gordon was slashed in the arm as he rode pillion on an electric bike while carrying a baseball bat.

He died in hospital six days later, while a second youth, aged 17 at the time, was seriously injured after being stabbed in the back shortly afterwards.

Both blows were inflicted by defendant Carlos Neto, now aged 18, using a machete supplied to him by co-accused Lawson Natty, also now 18.

The prosecution in the trial claims they were among a group of six teenagers from the Benwell area who went to Elswick seeking revenge after one of their number, Benedict Mbala, was attacked outside his college in Gateshead, earlier that day.

That attack was filmed and posted on social media.

The defendants, four of whom were armed with either machetes, a knife or a hammer, claim they went to Elswick to pose for photographs, also to post on social media, showing them in the rival territory, to look “hard” and to give the impression they were not afraid of the other group.

But after members of the other group began rounding on them near Elswick Park, they claim they were retreating at the time and Neto claims he used the machete in self-defence fearing he was about to be attacked.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Gordon Gault murder trial: Newcastle jury retires to consider verdicts

Summing up of evidence in Gordon Gault murder trial at Newcastle

Gordon Gault: Teenagers exaggerated 'for the sake of music'

Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here.

The prosecution states that the six defendants were acting in “joint enterprise”, as none would have gone to Elswick without the presence of the others.

The accused, Natty, of Eastgarth, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, Mbala, of St John’s Walk, Newcastle, Neto, of Manchester, but formerly of Newcastle, and Daniel Lacerda, of Paddock Close, Ferryhill, County Durham, also 18, plus 17 and 16-year-old co-accused, all deny murder and wounding with intent.

Proceeding.