Boy, 16, acted in self-defence, Hull murder trial hears

A teenage boy accused of killing a man in a revenge attack over the theft of drugs was acting in self-defence, a court has been told.

David Hunt, 45, was “repeatedly stabbed” on the upstairs landing of a house in Arundel Close, Hull, on 19 June last year and later died in hospital.

Hull Crown Court was told Mr Hunt had “a propensity for violence” and had been wielding a hammer at the time.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, and Dean Dawkins, 20, of Cherry Nook Road, Huddersfield, deny murder but have admitted two drug offences.

The court previously heard the defendants were handling a drugs line from the property, being operated by two dealers in London.

The prosecution told the jury that the teenager and Mr Dawkins were “in it together” and “lying in wait” for Mr Hunt at the house.

On the night of the incident, Mr Hunt gained access to the property by climbing through the bathroom window after his knocks at the door went unanswered, the court heard.

Defence barrister Richard Wright KC said: “If this was about revenge, why not just let him in [through the door] and attack him there?”

Mr Wright told the court that the prosecution’s case was that the attack was “determined and brutal”.

However, he told the jury that the teenager had believed Mr Hunt was there to steal drugs and was in an “absolute panic” while trying to get him to drop the hammer.

“There is a debt to pay if you don’t deliver the profits – and David Hunt does have a hammer,” Mr Wright said.

“That is the true context in which you need to judge the question on whether it was revenge or self-defence against a man who was intent on getting drugs come what may.”

Mr Dawkins’ barrister, Alistair MacDonald KC, also dismissed claims that it was a revenge attack and said his client did not know Mr Hunt, who had turned up unannounced at the address.

The court also heard that Mr Dawkins, who was friends with the teenager, had travelled from his home in Huddersfield to help out as things were very busy.

He said the prosecution had not addressed how anyone would know that Mr Hunt would climb up on to the roof like “Spiderman” to gain entry to the property.

“To ambush somebody, you’ve got to know they are coming,” Mr MacDonald said.

The teenager had always being “completely frank” that he was the only one to inflict injuries with the knife, he added.

“At no stage does he say Mr Dawkins had anything to do with it.”

The court also heard that a call had been made to the drugs line at the time Mr Hunt was trying to gain entry.

“Why would there be a call if this was a pre-ordained plan to attack David Hunt?” Mr MacDonald asked.

Following the incident, the two defendants fled the property and later travelled to Huddersfield in a taxi.

The 16-year-old boy and Mr Dawkins deny murder but have pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs

Two other defendants, Charlie Murray, 34, of Galpins Road, Thornton Heath, London, and Roberta Taylor, of Newtown Court, Hull, have also denied charges in relation to the case.

Ms Murray denies assisting an offender and two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Ms Taylor denies perverting the course of justice and two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Barry Leiper, 48, of Arundel Close, Hull, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Elon Williams, 30, of Rosemead Street, Hull has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

The jury has now retired to consider its verdicts.