A TEENAGER involved in the group attack which led to the death of Jack Woodley from a stab wound has admitted “chucking up to four punches” at the victim.

But the 17-year-old defendant said he did not know if any connected with Mr Woodley, as punches and kicks rained in on him in the attack in The Broadway, Houghton-le-Spring, shortly after all parties had left the site of the Houghton Feast funfair, on Saturday October 16, last year.

Asked why he got involved, the youth, a friend of the 15-year-old who is accused on inflicting the fatal stab wound, told the jury at Newcastle Crown Court that he believed he would be helping his friends and said at that point believed it was a, “group on group” fight.

When the melee moved into an alleyway off The Broadway, alongside The Britannia pub, he said he could not see any further fighting because of the number of people that were present.

He was asked by prosecuting counsel Mark McKone, in cross-examination: “You are telling the court when you went into the alleyway you didn’t see any fighting?”

The defendant said: “I saw him (Mr Woodley) on the floor at the end, but that was after I was told he had been stabbed.”

He denied having tried to punch or kick Mr Woodley in the alleyway and said he did not know who had told him he had been stabbed, but that it was a girl.

The defendant admitted having failed to help Mr Woodley or ring for assistance and said he ran away.

Asked why he ran away, he said: “I felt shocked and sick that it happened.”

Mr McKone asked: “Did you run away because you assaulted him?”

In response the defendant said: “No, I just chucked a couple of punches.”

But he admitted he was worried he would get into trouble.

Read more: Jack Woodley: 'It was an accident' says youth who committed fatal stabbing

Earlier in the evening the defendant said the 15-year-old accused of the stabbing had shown him what he believed to be the handle of a knife in the waist band of his jogging bottoms.

He said a short time after the incident he received a phone call from that youth asking if he had heard about the stabbing.

The defendant said the 15-year-old told him he was responsible for the stabbing.

Asked why he had rung him he said the other youth asked him to help, “get rid of the weapon”.

Mr Woodley, 18, died from the stab wound in hospital the following night.

The defendant giving evidence today (Tuesday April 19) is one ten youths aged 14 to 17 at the time, to deny murder.

But the 15-year-old who accepts responsibility for the stabbing has admitted manslaughter. He denies the murder charge, however.

The trial continues tomorrow.

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