ANDREW AYRES

ANDREW AYRES, CELEBRATING A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY

Andrew Ayres died from head injuries after he was stamped on

A man celebrating a friend's 50th birthday was murdered in a violent assault following a row over a taxi, a court heard. Andrew Ayres died from head injuries after he was stamped on, punched and hit with a mace as he lay on the ground in the car park of a Bradford pub, a jury was told. The trial began yesterday of four people - Michael Hall, 24, Laura Mitchell, 19, Henry Ballantyne, 20, and 25-year-old Jason Fawthrop - accused of his murder. Prosecutor Adrian Waterman, QC, told Bradford Crown Court there was no doubt Mr Ayres, 50, was murdered and Carl Holmes, 21, had pleaded guilty to the offence. He said the evidence showed Holmes had stamped on Mr Ayres and caused at least some of the injuries which led to his death. But Mr Waterman said the four defendants took part in a violent attack on Mr Ayres and two of his friends as a result of a fight a few minutes earlier. He told the jury: "Any other person who caused any of the injuries that led to Mr Ayres's death would also be guilty of murder. Anyone who participates in a joint enterprise with someone who causes the death of another is also guilty." Mr Waterman said that during the evening of January 27 this year Mr Ayres, who was known as Ted, and brothers Craig and Dean Powell had been out celebrating a friend's 50th birthday and ended up at the King's Head pub in Halifax Road, Buttershaw, where the defendants and their friends were drinking. Trouble broke out after Craig Powell ordered a taxi at 1.45am. When it arrived Mitchell, her boyfriend Hall, Carl Holmes and another man, Carl Wood, got in it. Craig Powell told them to get out and went inside to tell his girlfriend their taxi was waiting. The couple went outside and Mitchell became aggressive and then violent towards them, said Mr Waterman. The three men then also became violent. Mr Waterman said Mr Powell's girlfriend suffered a cut lip when she was hit in the face by Mitchell. Mr Powell was attacked by all four and suffered facial injuries. Mr Powell's brother went out to try to help and at some stage Mr Ayres came out of the pub. Mr Waterman said the four attackers then went to Fawthrop's house in Buttershaw Lane, just across Halifax Road, to get weapons and more people. He said: "It seemed to Craig and Dean Powell the attack on them had just stopped. What actually happened was a mission for reinforcements." He said the weapons included a knuckle duster, a CS spray canister and a mace and the attackers now included Ballantyne and Fawthrop. The gang chased the brothers and Mr Ayres, who tried to get back in the pub only to find it locked. The brothers had the CS canister sprayed in their faces and a window was smashed when Dean was pushed against the side of the pub. Mr Waterman said it was not known whether the deceased had CS gas sprayed in his face but it seemed clear he was chased round the car park and subjected to further violence. He said a witness saw Mr Ayres being attacked. Mr Waterman said: "During the attack he had tried to get to his feet but had been hit back down. Witnesses described punches and a mace being used on him. After he went to the ground he lay on his back and was stamped on the face and body area as he lay there. Some of the attacking group were using direct violence, others were standing and watching. One of those directly attacking was a female whom the Crown says was Laura Mitchell." Police were called but Mr Ayres never recovered and was pronounced dead shortly after 3.15am. A forensic pathologist found Mr Ayres, of Queensbury, had a number of injuries, including bruising, abrasions and fractures to his face and neck caused by footwear. There had been at least three forceful stamps. Police went to Fawthrop's house. Nobody was there but they found the knuckle duster, CS gas spray and mace. The defendants handed themselves in later the same day. All four defendants plead not guilty to murder and violent disorder. Holmes will be sentenced at the end of the trial, which is expected to last at least four weeks. A WOMAN has told a jury how she stayed with a Queensbury man as he lay dying in her pub car park. Andrew Ayres, 50, also known as Ted, died on January 28 after suffering serious head injuries during a brawl outside the Kings Head, Halifax Road, Buttershaw. Michael Hall, 24, his girlfriend Laura Mitchell, 22, both of Bottomley Street, Buttershaw, Henry Ballan-tyne, 20, and Jason Fawthrop, 25, all deny murdering Mr Ayres and a charge of violent disorder. Carl Holmes, 21, of Bonwick Mall, Buttershaw, has admitted murder and is awaiting sentence. Bradford Crown Court heard there was a row over a taxi booked by Mr Ayres's friend, Craig Powell. Elaine Regan said the first she knew of the fight was when Mr Powell's girlfriend, Claire Francis, came into the pub with an injured lip. She said: "Initially I was going to go outside and one of the customers said, 'No, Elaine, get back in and lock the door,' and that is what I did." Meanwhile Mr Ayres, Mr Powell and his brother, Dean, were outside being attacked by the group. She said she heard the sound of breaking glass and went back to the door. "Somebody greeted me I don't know who it was," she said, "They said, 'There is someone seriously hurt,' and when I turned to my left, that is when I found out who it was. "I stayed with Ted until the ambulance got there." Miss Francis, Mr Powell's girlfriend, told the court she was hit three times by Mitchell and fell to the ground. Peter Birkett QC, for Mitchell, suggested that Miss Francis was playing down her part in the fight but she denied the claim. Mohammed Saleem, the taxi driver, told the court he saw Mr Powell punch members of the other group and at least one fell to the ground. Mr Powell, who suffered a broken nose in the attack, told the jury that he did not hit anyone during the incident. ANDREW AYRES08 Aug 2007