Gang murdered man in street like 'pack of animals'

Seven people have gone on trial accused of murdering a 21-year-old man who was slashed and stabbed by an armed gang wearing balaclavas.

Dale Martin, also known as DJ, was dragged out of a car before his attackers set upon him "like a pack of animals", according to one witness.

The murder trial heard that the attack in Derby on 15 June followed a history of "animosity" between two rival groups, and two confrontations earlier that weekend.

Six men and one teenager have denied murder, while three other defendants are on trial for assisting an offender, which they also deny.

Adrian Langdale KC, prosecuting, said the attackers had armed themselves with swords, machetes and "Rambo knives", and had planned to ambush and kill Martin.

"You will hear them shout 'kill him, kill him', and you will start to see some of the spinning and thrusting of the blades as he tries to get past them," Langdale told jurors, describing CCTV they will see later in the trial.

He said Martin initially managed to escape, then unfortunately tripped on a piece of wood and fell to the floor.

"The pack descended upon him, they surrounded him, and they repeatedly stabbed and chopped at his head and chest and back area," Langdale said.

The defendants on trial at Derby Crown Court for murder are:

• Ki Grant-Finlayson, 23, of Addison Road, Derby
• Keenan Hamblett, 26, of Osmaston Park Road, Derby
• Jayden Mannion-Roberts, 25, of Tennyson Street, Derby
• Shaylon McCalla, 26, of Copes Way, Derby
• Kayin Holmes, 25, of Nightingale Road, Derby
• Kelci Thompson, 19, of Osmaston Road, Derby
• A 17-year-old, who cannot be named

The defendants on trial for assisting an offender are:

• Asha Waddilove, 21, of Ashworth Avenue, Derby
• Bridget Hamblett, 58, of Osmaston Park Road, Derby
• John Sylvester, whose age and address have not been provided by the court

The court heard that the defendants accused of murder were all in the same Snapchat group, and the prosecution said Grant-Finlayson used this to "summon the troops".

Langdale told jurors the Snapchat messages were automatically deleted, so it was no longer possible to read them, but it was possible to see which members of the group had sent messages leading up to the attack.

He said the alleged murderers came from an area of Derby known as the Allenton Triangle, and they travelled to carry out the attack on two electric bikes and a moped.

Martin was then attacked in Oaklands Avenue and Stenson Road at about 23:45 BST, he said, after the Renault Megane he was travelling in was "ambushed".

Langdale said the group put their electric bikes in the road to stop the car, which then swerved and stalled.

The group then smashed the windows of the Megane, he said, before "dragging the occupants out of the vehicle to be attacked".

One of the occupants managed to escape, Langdale said, and was chased down the road into an alleyway.

Martin also managed to initially escape, before tripping over during the chase.

He was then repeatedly stabbed and slashed, with the fatal injury being to his liver.

Langdale warned jurors that the footage they will see of part of the attack is "shocking" and will be difficult to watch.

"The attack is aimed at his head, his chest and his vital organs," said Langdale.

"The defendants are screaming at each other, 'kill him, kill him'.

"Anyone who involved themselves in that - you will not take long to conclude - intended really serious harm."

The trial continues.

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