Boy, 16, ‘killed man from behind with cricket bat’
Stepdad died looking for kids’ bikes
A SCHOOLBOY armed with a cricket bat murdered a stepdad as he searched for two stolen children’s bikes, a court was told yesterday. Derek Whyteside was hit on the head by the 16-year-old who had “crept up behind him”, jurors heard. The bikes had been taken from the home Derek, 42, shared with his partner and four stepkids. Kevin Hegarty QC, prosecuting, said: “He was struck across the back of the head. The defendant raised the bat to head height to strike. It is described as a full swing. He intended at the very least serious harm to Derek Whyteside. He did so from behind.” He told Stafford crown court the victim had “no chance to take any action to defend himself or to evade the blow”. He added: “The impact fractured his skull and the fracture extended into his right eye socket. Before he could take another step, he collapsed.” Derek suffered a second skull fracture when his head hit the ground and he was then attacked KEVIN HEGARTY QC IN COURT YESTERDAY TRIBUTES Flowers left on the road where Derek died
by two men, Mr Hegarty said. He died in hospital two days later.
Derek, of Telford, Shrops, was seen with a knuckleduster as went looking on June 18, the court heard.
His partner, Michelle Beddall, said in court she had gone to the teen’s home after seeing CCTV of the theft but he laughed after the mumof-four spoke to him. The teen told police he acted in self-defence and later that he was defending his own mum.
The men who attacked Mr Whyteside admitted affray and are not on trial. The boy, who cannot be named, denies murder and his trial continues.
Victim had no chance to defend himself or to evade the blow