Jack Woodley's killers named after appeal hearing over 'fair trial'

Ten killers, including Grant Wheatley and Clayton Owen, both 19, and Sonny Smith, 18, are appealing against the conviction - with barristers arguing they did not get a fair trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Jack, from Newton Aycliffe, died from a stab wound the day after he was beaten and kicked by a pack of young men aged 14 to 18 as he left the Houghton Feast in October 2021.

Jack Woodley (Image: Contributor)

The case was heard at the Court of Appeal in London today (Thursday, July 6) where the presiding judge said a court order banning the reporting of three appellants who have turned 18 no longer applies.

However, a second order remained in place until a legal challenge was submitted by the Northern Echo - that was quashed by Lord Justice Tim Holroyde.

The judge said section 45 orders, relating to the remaining seven killers, will remain in place until a verdict is reached, when further consideration will be given.

Sonny Smith (Image: Contributor)

Clayton Owen (Image: Contributor)

Grant Wheatley (Image: Contributor)

Read more: First meeting of North East Knife Crime Taskforce in Durham

The case was the catalyst for the launch of the Northern Echo’s campaign to address serious youth street violence that saw the inaugural meeting of the newly-founded North East Knife Crime Taskforce last month.

The Court of Appeal was told Judge Rodney Jameson, who oversaw the three-month trial last spring, ‘failed’ in his duty to be fair and impartial.

Barristers have argued a two-week break in the proceedings and comments the judge made during the lengthy hearing harmed defence cases.

Nicholas Lumley, for the 15-year-old boy, now 16, who stabbed Jack said the judge summed up the boy's case three-and-a-half weeks after jurors heard the defence's closing statement but did not mention important parts.

Mr Lumley said both the prosecution and judge "seized" on the boy's use of the word "accidental" when he explained how he stabbed Jack to jurors.

Mr Lumley said the boy's phrasing was "inelegant" but was understandable given he was a 15-year-old giving evidence in a court full of adult legal professionals.

Mr Lumley said the judge should have given a more detailed summary of the defence case rather than a "thumbnail sketch".

Leonard Smith, representing Wheatley, who opened the case for the appellants, said it had been a "very, very emotional trial", one no-one would forget.

He said: “The trial judge had a difficult task. He did not have an easy task.

“We regretfully say for different reasons he failed in that task.”

The appeal was told the trial began on March 14 with all evidence submitted by April 21 before jurors heard closing speeches from the prosecution and defence lawyers ahead of a two-week break from May 9.

Read more: Open letter to Prime Minister for action on knife crime

The last time jurors heard from the barristers was on May 6, but following the fortnight break, and then the judge’s summing up, they were not sent out to deliberate until Friday May 27.

Ten guilty verdicts of murder were returned the following Wednesday.

Although each defendant played different roles in the attack they were convicted under controversial ‘joint enterprise’ legislation.

Mr Smith said the judge’s summing up of Wheatley's case, "crossed the boundary" from being an impartial and "neutral umpire" into offering his view of the defendant’s case.

David Lamb, for 16-year-old boy, now aged 17, who first attacked Jack, said interventions by the judge when he was on the stand were done with "hostility".

Toby Hedworth, representing Sonny Smith, said the long delay impacted on his client’s case and said the judge did not analyse his defence adequately, arguing it was "not properly put before the jury".

Read next:

• How the tragic deaths of North East stabbing victims could shape knife crime policy
• Powerful video shows County Durham mum singing to her murdered son on death bed
• The Northern Echo calls on the Prime Minister for urgent action on knife crime

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Mark McKone, who prosecuted the case, said: “The prosecution do not accept that the summing up was unfair generally, or unfair for any defendant. It fairly set out the issues of the case for each defendant.

“Ultimately, it was clear what the jury had to decide.

“We submit the judge has not done anything that would unfairly distort the issues.”

The appeal hearing was adjourned to a date to be fixed in the future when a ruling will be made.