John Henry Sayers declined to cooperate with police over an arson attack outside his home, claiming that Northumbria Police were "corrupt and colluding and protecting their informers who are to blame", a court heard. Three men had torched a VW Golf parked in a garage outside Sayers' home in Newcastle and hours later another member of his family had their car set on fire in a separate attack.
Background of the Incident
Those arson attacks happened on January 31, two days before Sayers and his son allegedly attacked an arsonist who set fire to a Range Rover which was driven into his home. It is alleged Sayers struck Walter Patterson with a machete and John Henry Sayers hit him with a metal pole outside their home on Fossway, Byker, Newcastle. Both deny causing GBH with intent.
The jury at the Old Bailey, in London, was told about the incident two days before the matters which are the subject of the trial. Around 12pm, a Vauxhall Astra pulled up at the side of Lou's diner, which is underneath Sayers' home, and two passengers got out - Walter Patterson and Grant Curley.
Details of the Arson Attack
Curley and Patterson set fire to a VW Golf parked in a garage linked to Lou's Diner before getting back in the Astra and leaving the scene. Det Sgt Darren Davies said Sayers snr was spoken to about that arson attack and declined to provide CCTV of it or make a statement.
The officer said police later got a warrant to enter the premises and seize the footage, which was played to the jury. Jurors were also shown pictures of significant damage caused to the front of the VW Golf by the fire. The court is told Curley, Patterson and driver Grant Royal were later prosecuted and pleaded guilty to an offence in relation to that.
The court was told a PC attended outside Sayers' home and obtained an entry in his notebook stating Sayers did not want to provide a statement. Sayers signed the notebook saying: "I, John Henry Sayers, do not wish to provide a statement to the police in relation to the incident today because Northumbria Police are corrupt and colluding and protecting their informers who are to blame".
Further Attacks on Family Vehicles
The court heard vehicles belonging to other members of the Sayers family were attacked that night. Around 11.45pm, a Mercedes registered to his nephew, Thomas Sayers, was set on fire in Acton Place, Heaton. A VW Polo belonging to Thomas' sister was also rammed and damaged on the same street.
The court was played footage of the arson attack on the white Mercedes. A black Range Rover, which Det Sgt Davies believes may be the same one which was later driven into Lou's Diner and set on fire, pulled up. Liquid, believed to be accelerant, is splashed on the windscreen and ignited, with the bonnet going up in flames. People then come out and tackle the fire. Jurors were shown pictures of the damage caused to the Mercedes and the VW Polo.
Forensic Evidence Presented
A statement was also read to the court from John Newell, a forensic scientist. He examined a machete which had a 42cm blade and was 6.5cm at its widest point. Mr Newell said there was "widespread bloodstaining" on the handle and blade. Tests showed the blood was a billion times more likely to be a DNA match for Walter Patterson than for someone unrelated to him.
Mr Newell said, in his opinion, a swab of the handle showed the DNA of Sayers snr was "represented to the extent he could be a significant contributor". Mr Newell said there was also bloodstaining on the metal pole which was also likely to be a DNA match for Patterson. He said there was no clear evidence of DNA from either of the accused on the pole. However he added this did not determine whether or not it was not handled by one or both of them.
Mr Newell examined a sample of blood found on the pavement on Fossway after the incident. This was found to be a DNA match for Sayers snr.
Examination of Clothing
Mr Newell examined clothing found in a bin on Roman Avenue after the incident, namely a Nike sweatshirt, Jack & Jones hoodie and grey Puma jogging bottoms. These were allegedly being worn by Patterson during the incident. Mr Newell said bloodstaining was particularly heavy on the lower sleeves of the hoodie, which had a cut to the left cuff which could have been made by a sharp object used in a slashing or chopping type action, he added.
He said it's likely this would have resulted in an injury to the lower left arm or wrist area. Mr Newell said bloodstaining on the jogging bottoms was mainly downward drips and spots. There was a score mark on the bottoms which could have been from a bladed article but it didn't penetrate through and was unlikely to have caused serious injury. The sweatshirt had bloodstaining which was soaked in.
Mr Newell said the findings "could be explained if the garments had been worn by a freely bleeding individual" and "it's possible the wearer sustained significant injury to the left wrist or lower arm". DNA on the clothing matched that of Patterson, Mr Newell said.
Conclusion of Forensic Analysis
Mr Newell said a possible explanation for the evidence he found in relation to the weapons is that "the machete had been used to deliver multiple blows to Walter Patterson" and the "metal pole had come into contact with a surface that was wet with Walter Patterson's blood" - but he added there was no evidence to suggest it had been used to hit an individual who was bleeding and the blood could have come from an individual who had blood on their hands handling it.
Sayers snr, 62 and Sayers jnr, 29, both of Fossway, Byker, Newcastle, deny causing GBH with intent. The trial continues.
