Jury retires to consider verdicts in Newhaven murder trial

The jury in the Newhaven murder trial has retired to consider its verdicts.
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Judge Jeremy Gold QC summed up the case at Hove Crown Court this morning (September 17), before the 12 jurors retired.

A teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of killing Colin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, in Elphick Road, Newhaven, on January 6, this year.

He denies murder.

Colin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, died after being stabbed in Newhaven. Picture: Sussex PoliceColin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, died after being stabbed in Newhaven. Picture: Sussex Police
Colin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, died after being stabbed in Newhaven. Picture: Sussex Police
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The court previously heard that Ollie died after being stabbed in the head and back following an alleged altercation.

A car which was outside a property in Elphick Road left the scene at 11.21pm, before a 999 call was made four minutes later by a woman trying to save Ollie’s life, the court heard.

The young defendant and Ollie had allegedly been engaging with people who were in the car from an upstairs window before the defendant grabbed a knife from the kitchen and the pair went outside.

Both the defendant and Ollie engaged in a conversation on a doorstep before the defendant became ‘agitated and stressed’ and was heard saying Ollie was ‘bringing trouble to the door’, the court heard,

A forensic at the scene in NewhavenA forensic at the scene in Newhaven
A forensic at the scene in Newhaven
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A fight then allegedly broke out between the pair. The court heard that the defendant started punching Ollie who was crouched by a door. He then grabbed a metal letterbox and started striking him with that.

The defendant then allegedly ‘pursued Ollie with the knife in anger’ before he collapsed to the floor.

The court heard today that the defendant said he did not intend to use the knife. He said he grabbed it when he was not thinking and was angry, scared and anxious that people were outside – but he did not intend to hurt or kill Ollie.

Ollie was throwing punches, the defendant claims, and he acted in self defense as he believed he was under attack.

The trial continues.