Murderer was ‘spirited away’ to avoid arrest
CONSPIRACY TO PERVERT JUSTICE CHARGES
A MURDERER was “spirited away” to dodge arrest for nine days after stabbing a man to death in Nottingham city centre.
Ethan Austin drew a Samurai sword that was at least eight inches long outside House of Fraser, at the Victoria Centre, on September 14, 2019, Nottingham Crown Court was told yesterday.
He lunged at 28-year-old Lee Cooper, stabbing him in the chest. The blade went between Mr Cooper’s ribs, right through his heart and into his right lung.
Despite strenuous efforts to save his life, Mr Cooper died in the street.
Austin was tried and convicted of murder in March last year.
Now seven people – some members of Austin’s family and Austin himself – are being tried for conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
William Harbage QC, prosecuting, said: “It may not have been immediately obvious to Ethan Austin that Mr Cooper was fatally wounded but he must have realised that he had stabbed him and caused a really serious wound.
“It is clear Ethan Austin did not want to be arrested by police; he immediately fled the scene.
“Ethan Austin, who was 19, somehow managed to lie low and evade the police for that lengthy period of time.
“We say he didn’t do that all by himself; he was helped by a number of others, namely the other six defendants in the dock. They helped him to avoid detection and arrest.”
He said Ethan was “spirited away” from the city centre and helped to avoid arrest.
The defendants are: Austin’s father, Daniel Austin, 45, of Westleigh Road, Broxtowe; Ethan Austin, 21, of Ash Villas, Carrington; Austin’s cousin Jeffrey Austin, 46, of Wyton Close, Sherwood; Austin’s sibling Shelby Austin, 25, of Robin Hood Chase, St Ann’s; Austin’s close friend Kyle Boulton, 20, of Wheatacre Road, Clifton; Radcliffe Lewis, 76, of Sumburgh Road, Clifton, who was a friend of Austin’s and his father; Austin’s then on-off partner Elle Patrick, 19, of Hornbeam Close, Edwalton.
All seven defendants deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The trial continues