AN ongoing murder trial has been delayed by Covid cases affecting two members of the jury.

The Newcastle Crown Court hearing involving ten teenage defendants accused of taking part in the attack that resulted in the death of Jack Woodley is nearing the end of the prosecution case.

But at the start of what should have been the third week of the hearing, counsel involved in the case were told of positive Covid tests affecting two jurors.

Judge Rodney Jameson said it may not be until Wednesday that the jurors affected may provide negative test results to enable the case to proceed.

He, therefore, put the case back to Thursday, but with a scheduled ‘mention’ involving counsel on Wednesday afternoon to see if it will be possible to resume by then.

Read more: Jack Woodley murder trial underway in Newcastle Crown Court

The ten defendants, aged 14 to 18, deny the charge or murder of 18-year-old Mr Woodley, who died in hospital from a stab wound to the back on October 17, last year, the day after being attacked on the last night of the Houghton Feast fun fair, in Houghton-le-Spring.

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