Harry Baker’s accused murderer denies “hunting” him down in Barry docks, a court has heard.
Peter McCarthy stated in court he was only in the area to pickup drugs, which was just hours before the East Cardiff teenager was found bare and stabbed at a dockside compound in Barry in August 2019.
McCarthy (accused of the murder) was the first defendant to be cross-examined after giving his defence on Monday.
Leon Clifford, 23, (from Barry)
Raymond Thompson, 48, (from Barry)
Lewis Evans, 62, (from Barry)
McCarthy, 37, (from Barry)
Ryan Palmer, 34, (from Barry)
Leon Symons, 22, (from Ely, in Cardiff)
and a 17-year-old boy (from Cardiff)
are the 7 standing trial accused of the alleged murder of 17-year-old Harry Baker. They have all denied murder and on trial at Newport Crown Court.
“armed and deadly gang” is what MCarthy has been accused of being involved with which was involved with the alleged murdered the Cardiff teenager whose body was discovered after an alleged drug dealing row.
The body of Mr Baker’s was found in Barry Intermodal Terminal on August 28, 2019, stripped bloodied and covered in stab wounds.
McCarthy told prosecutor Paul Lewis there were “no turf wars” in Barry, adding: “it’s not like London.”
He also denied suggestions of an earlier “ploy” to lure Mr Baker to his death around August the 27th
The defendant described the incident: “It wasn’t an ambush. I heard a loud noise, turned round the corner and saw them swinging at each other across the road. Knives. There was Clifford, Syms, (the youth), Harry and Louis Johnson.”
When he was asked why he approached these people who were in the fight, McCarthy stated: “Because I wanted my drugs. It might sound mad to you but that’s the life you live when you’re on drugs.”
On Monday McCarthy was also shown footage of Mr Baker and friend Mr Johnson running followed by the youth, Clifford and McCarthy behind him.
Asked why he was running, the defendant said: “I’m jogging with a limp. I’m trying to keep up with (the youth) because he’s got my drugs.”
During his questioning, Mr Lewis said: “You know down in that area of the docks is (the youth), and you know he’s got a knife. Ahead of you with a knife is Leon Clifford because you’ve seen it. Behind you with a knife is Leon Symons because you’ve seen it.
“And now the five of you are armed. Why is a gang of five armed people down in the docks at that time in the morning?”
McCarthy said: “I can’t answer that.”
Asked later whether he would have followed the youth to Cardiff had he run there instead, McCarthy refused to answer the question.
During the cross-examination, the defendant denied that he was part of a “gang”, describing himself and others as “users going to score”.
Asked what he saw on the night, he said: “I didn’t see nothing”.
When it was put to him that McCarthy was in the pub the following afternoon after learning of Mr Baker’s death, the defendant said: “I went down there for a pint and to score, we weren’t there having a good time like you’re making out.”
The case prosecutor Mr Lewis told the jury while opening: “[Harry Baker] was just 17 years old at the date he was so brutally murdered by these defendants. It’s the prosecution’s case that Harry Baker was deliberately targeted as a victim. He was ruthlessly hunted down by vicious people who were determined to find him.”
“When they seeked and located him he was ambushed and attacked initially in the street called Little Moors Hill in Barry.
“Harry Baker was with a friend at the time of the ambush, a young man called Louis Johnson.
“The two of them ran away from attackers. They were chased by an armed and deadly gang through the town of Barry and towards the docks for a distance of about a mile.
“Harry Baker attempted to escape his pursuers by climbing a fence and taking refuge
He said Mr Baker sought refuge “in a secure floodlit docks compound”, adding: “He no doubt thought he would be safe there but he wasn’t. His killers were determined. They subjected him to a swift, bloody, and merciless attack before quickly fleeing from the scene.”
The trial, before Mr Justice Picken, continues.