JURORS in the Jack Woodley trial may begin to deliberate their verdicts by the end of next week, the judge overseeing the case told them today (April 25).

But it might not be until later in May that verdicts are reached as there is to be a fortnight-long delay in the hearing from May 9 due to pre-agreed counsel unavailability.

Jurors returned to Newcastle Crown Court today, seven weeks since the beginning of the trial, after the last of the evidence from the ten defendants was given last Thursday.

Judge Rodney Jameson told jurors that he and counsel in the case would be discussing legal directions to be given to them for the rest of today, tomorrow and Wednesday morning.

But he asked the jury to return to sit again at 12-noon on Wednesday to hear those agreed directions, before the closing speech of prosecuting counsel, Mark McKone.

That will be followed by the defence closing speeches and the judge’s summing up of the law and the evidence in the case, with the possibility that the jury will retire by Thursday or Friday next week.

Read more: Jack Woodley: Teenager admits wearing knuckleduster but denies using it

All ten defendants, aged 14 to 18, deny the murder of Mr Woodley, who died from a stab wound to the back, inflicted during a mass attack in an alleyway off The Broadway, Houghton-le-Spring, on the last night of the funfair at the annual Houghton Feast celebration, on Saturday, October 16, last year.

The 18-year-old victim, originally from Newton Aycliffe, died in hospital the night after the attack.

One of the defendants, aged 15, has admitted inflicting the fatal blow and admits manslaughter, but like his nine co-accused, denies murder.

The case continues.

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