Chester walls murder trial latest: Defendant admits twice punching the deceased

A YOUTH on trial for murder admitted punching the alleged victim and later smoked cannabis which the prosecution say was stolen from the deceased.

The 17-year-old, from Blacon, who can’t be named, told Chester Crown Court he punched Christopher Garwell, 23, twice and saw co-accused Kieran Cunnah, of Durham Road, Blacon, kick him in the face. Both deny murder.

But the defendant claimed he had no idea Mr Garwell, from Connah’s Quay, had been badly injured in the city walls incident on June 3 and only ran from the scene out of a fear he may be arrested for assault.

Under cross examination, the 17-year-old admitted being present during an earlier incident at Charlotte Court when David Tushingham, a former defendant in the case, punched Mr Garwell in the face after he refused to hand over his drugs and said Cunnah, 18, also hit him.

The 17-year-old picked up a bag of cannabis from the floor, which he “didn’t know” belonged to Mr Garwell and smoked it later that night.

Recalling the incident on the walls, the defendant, answering questions from his own defence barrister, remembered overhearing Mr Garwell on his mobile phone saying “Get the boys down, I’ve been banged”.

He said there was then a confrontation in which he claimed Mr Garwell “put his arms out and said ‘Come on then’ ” and moved towards him and another teenage member of the group.

At this point the teenager, a former defendant in the case, went to kick Mr Garwell but missed. Mr Garwell moved towards them again saying ‘Come on’, insisted the 17-year-old, who added: “I punched him to the side of his face.”

Asked why, he replied: “I thought he was going to do it to me first.” Mr Garwell responded by repeating ‘Come on’, he said, at which point the defendant punched him again. He said Kieran Cunnah then kicked Mr Garwell to his face.

The 17-year-old said neither of his punches caused Mr Garwell any real damage or caused him to fall to the ground. He only found out how serious the incident was “days after” when his mum told him police had been to his house.

The case continues.