Pair deny brutal murder of man
COURT TOLD FRIENDS OF VICTIM, 29, DID NOT EVEN RECOGNISE HIM
NEW Year celebrations allegedly ended in a murderous attack “akin to torture” as a man was beaten so ferociously he was left unrecognisable to his friends, a court heard.
Ashley Cochrane was allegedly subjected to a savage attack by three men acting as a team and looking to steal and rob. Prosecutors say the 29-yearold was murdered by George Dixon and Sean Histon, who deny it.
A third accused, Lee Annis, died in prison while awaiting trial.
Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr Cochrane, of Jesmond, Newcastle, was targeted in a “vicious and brutal” attack at a hostel in Byker as his alleged attackers sought to get his bank details from him.
He was later found by his friend fatally injured, with head and chest injuries including fractures or damage to almost every rib, front and back.
The court heard Mr Cochrane had been at the Lord Clyde pub in Byker on New Year’s Eve but was asked to leave at about 9.30 after falling asleep due to being very drunk.
He arranged to go to Catherine House, on Shields Road, Byker, to wait for his friend Robert Martin, who lived there. When Mr Martin returned, the court heard, he found his home had been ransacked, as had others.
Mr Martin and his friend then heard groaning coming from one of the flats.
“They found a man lying on a bloodsoaked pillow who had obviously been the victim of a vicious attack,” prosecutor Jason Pitter QC said. “That man was Ashley Cochrane.
“So badly was he beaten, his friend Mr Martin, who had been with him earlier that evening only hours before, did not recognise him.”
The prosecutor said failed attempts were made to use Mr Cochrane’s bank card to withdraw cash by Histon and Annis and then Dixon.
Mr Pitter said while prosecutors do not have to prove a motive, they say the accused were trying to get money for drugs.
He told the court: “The prosecution say they were together as a unit prior to, during and after the attack. The prosecution say they were operating as a team, a team to steal.
“While the prosecution don’t need to prove a motive, it may be you conclude in this case there was a motive and that was to obtain money to score or buy drugs.”
The court heard examination of the scene showed “damage to a wall consistent with somebody’s head being banged into or forced into the wall” which was consistent with damage to Mr Cochrane’s head.
The prosecutor said there were finger marks from Histon in blood on the wall above the damage to the wall.
He added: “That could be indicative of somebody bracing themselves up against the wall.”
The court heard each defendant blames the other two men for the attack, while prosecutors allege they were all involved.
Dixon, 38, of Shields Road, Byker and Histon, 32, of Mitford Gardens, Wallsend, deny murder. Dixon has pleaded guilty to doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice by washing clothes and footwear afterwards, a charge Histon denies.
The trial continues.