The jury in the trial of a teenager accused of murdering a man with a homemade shotgun has been discharged.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murdering Alan Garbutt but had accepted that he was holding the ‘slam-gun’ at the time when it went off and the pellets hit him in the chest.

The 62-year-old, from East Cleveland, died following the fatal shooting at Helmsley House, Guisborough, last summer.

The Northern Echo: Alan GarbuttAlan Garbutt

Fire crews and ambulance crews also attended the block of flats from around 2.20am on August 8, where the body of Mr Garbutt was discovered.

A 43-year-old man and a 28-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of murder were released with no further action taken.

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Four days into the trial, High Court Judge Charles Bourne took the decision to discharge the jury and ordered a retrial.

The Northern Echo: Police vehicles at the scene of the suspected murder of Alan GarbuttPolice vehicles at the scene of the suspected murder of Alan Garbutt

The teenager’s case is to be listed at Teesside Crown Court next week when a new trial date is expected to be set.