Five men are standing trial for the murder of 22-year-old Daniel Ambler, who was crushed to death by a car at a petrol station in Seaham following an alleged family feud. The Crown Prosecution Service barrister Matthew Donkin KC opened the case at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday, outlining how the victim was targeted and killed.
Attack at Bus Stop and Petrol Station
Mr Donkin told the court that on Thursday January 15, Daniel Ambler was standing at a bus stop on a main road in Seaham when he was attacked by the five defendants. Within about three minutes, he suffered catastrophic injuries that killed him. The attack began at the bus stop, and Daniel ran away but was chased, assaulted, and injured before fleeing to a nearby petrol station.
The prosecutor said the attack was not over after the chase. Daniel was followed onto the forecourt by a Nissan car that was deliberately driven at him, hitting him. The car continued, crashing into the petrol station shop and crushing Daniel, killing him immediately.
Defendants and Family Feud
The defendants are Barry Anderson, 52, of Canon Cockin Street, Sunderland; Ashton Anderson, 20, of Noble Street, Peterlee; Barry Logan Anderson, 19, of Shotton Bank, Hartlepool; Ajay Henry, 18, of Melrose Crescent, Seaham; and Tyler Leadbetter, 18, of Elgin Avenue, Seaham. Each denies murder, but Ashton Anderson has admitted violent disorder.
The court heard that Ashton Anderson and Barry Logan Anderson, known as Logan Anderson, are brothers, and Barry Anderson is their father. Ajay Henry and Tyler Leadbetter are friends of Ashton Anderson. Mr Donkin said the prosecution case was that the group had arrived as a team to attack Daniel, who was deliberately targeted due to an ongoing feud between families.
Prosecution Case and Evidence
Mr Donkin said the person driving the Nissan X-trail was Ashton Anderson, with Tyler Leadbetter and Ajay Henry as passengers in the back. However, he argued that the identity of the driver did not matter, as all five were guilty of murder. The group had initially spotted Daniel at a bus stop on Whitlea Road with Reece Wilkin and Anthony Davison.
The prosecutor explained that Logan Anderson chased Daniel towards the petrol station forecourt and attacked him with a weapon. Barry Anderson had chased Reece Wilkin towards the Mallard pub, where they were fighting when the Nissan crashed into a wall, before being reversed and driven towards the petrol station. A post-mortem found Daniel died from injury to his neck, with many other fractures and lacerations, and injuries to his head from a weapon believed to have been wielded by Logan Anderson.
The court heard that Barry Anderson was stabbed in 2025, and the Anderson family believed David Ambler, Daniel's older brother, was responsible. Mr Donkin said: "The Andersons and Amblers have been involved in a feud and that is what led to the death of Daniel Ambler on January 15." Describing the moment Ashton Anderson drove the Nissan towards Daniel, he added: "There was no deviation or attempt to stop. The car was driven into the front of the shop with what must have been the inevitable result - the killing of Daniel Ambler."
A witness, Daniel Miller, who was refuelling his vehicle, described seeing a man on the floor and another man with what he believed was a hammer swinging down to hit him. He thought the vehicle had come in at speed. The trial continues.
