Man in murder trial over bar death
AMAN killed a 23-year-old in a nightclub by thrusting a champagne flute in his throat, a murder trial heard.
Jack James Costello, of Victoria Road, Rishton, stands accused of murdering Jason Taylor, known as Jay Jay, during an altercation in Esco-Bar, Darwen shortly after 1am on January 28 this year.
A jury of seven men and five women at Preston Crown Court heard that Costello, 45, admits the manslaughter of Mr Taylor but denies murder.
Prosecuting, Jacob Dyer, said: “This defendant admits assaulting Jay Jay using a glass.
“He admits this attack caused his death.
“What he does not accept is that he intended to do grievous bodily harm.
“So he denies that he is guilty of murder.”
Mr Dyer told the jury that before the fatal attack, Jay Jay exchanged words with Kayle Smith, who is the nephew of the defendant’s former partner.
“Kayle Smith head butted Jay Jay but he did not appear to be overly concerned by that,” said Mr Dyer.
“Kayle Smith spoke to the defendant who then launched the fatal attack.
“This second, unprovoked attack saw the defendant clamping his teeth onto Jay Jay’s ear, then thrusting a glass in his neck, then lunging at him again.
“The blow from the glass caused a deep cut that severed his jugular vein. He suffered a catastrophic loss of blood and Jay Jay collapsed outside the bar,” he added.
The court heard that Mr Taylor was taken to Royal Preston Hospital but died from his injuries at 11am.
Mr Dyer added: “Those involved can be easily identified. The bar was busy. The defendant himself has one eye.”
The court heard that Costello, who had been out that night to celebrate his son’s 21st birthday, later surrendered to the police and that he replied no comment to all questions.
The jury was shown CCTV from inside Esco- Bar. Mr Taylor is seen waiting to be served at the bar, talking to an acquaintance, Zoe Broadhurst.
Mr Dyer read a statement from Miss Broadhurst in which she said that Kayle Smith asked her ‘aren’t you too good to be talking to him’?
Describing the footage to the jury Mr Dyer said it showed Costello biting Mr Taylor’s ear for around six seconds before lunging towards him with the glass in his hand. Costello denies murder.
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