THE driver who took two men away from the scene of an alleged murder told a court that he saw neither carrying a knife.
Peter Gilling was stabbed five times during a violent confrontation with two men in the early hours of September 29 last year, suffering a fatal wound to his leg.
Liam Laverick told Teesside Crown Court that he saw the three men scuffling but did not know that the 39-year-old father-of-one had been stabbed.
The teenager said Darren Willans and Derek Pallas had asked for a lift to a block of flats in Billingham on the night of the fateful violence.
Mr Laverick told the court that he saw a ''few punches" thrown but was unaware that Mr Gilling had suffered fatal injuries before he drove the pair away from the scene.
Under cross examination from Mr Pallas's barrister, Jamie Hill QC, the teenager said: "I saw a scuffle, I could see fists flying about but couldn't if any really landed."
Melsonby Court, Billingham
When asked what he thought had happened before driving the defendants away, he replied: "I thought he had just hit a few times – I didn't see a knife in the car at all."
Mr Willans, 31, or Warren Court, Hartlepool, and 36-year-old Mr Pallas, of Marsh house Avenue, Billingham, both deny murder.
The trial, which is expected to last for two weeks, continues.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here