Details of vicious assault heard during murder trial

“It happened so quickly I only knew bits and bats,” Bashir said. “Leonie Mason, (his 23-year-old, on/off girlfriend) had Craig in a headlock.”

He said one of the tallest lads, (who is not involved in these court proceedings), “came with a branch with a wooden stick with a notch on it, swung it towards Craig and it actually hit me.

“It hit me on my left shoulder and I fell to the ground with severe pain in my back.”

When he got up he said: “Everyone, (four teenage boys), was just like kicking and stamping on his body from head to toe.” Mr Sidhu: “Did you join in?” Bashir: “No. I then saw Leonie at the rear of the car. She pulled the car jack out from the rear of the boot.

“She struck Craig across the head, I think more than once.”

Mr Sidhu: “Did she do anything else?”

Bashir: “I think she kicked him, I don’t know.”

Mr Sidhu: “Did you anything?”

Bashir: “I shouted: ‘Stop more than once.”

After that flurry of violence the defendant was asked what happened next.

He replied: “Leonie told the boys to pick Craig up and put him in the boot. Three of them picked him up.

“Before the boot lid got shut Leonie said: ‘you tell anyone, you are next.”

Mr Sidhu: “How did Leonie appear to you?”

Bashir: “She was on something. I had never seen that look.”

Mr Sidhu: “Did you say anything back to her?” Bashir: “She looked so evil.” Bashir, Mason and three teenage boys who can’t be named for legal reasons, all deny murder.

The case continues.