John Henry Sayers and his son have declined to give evidence in their trial at the Central Criminal Court, where they are accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a member of an organised crime group (OCG) that had targeted them in a series of attacks.
Defence Announcements
Michael Holland KC, representing Sayers senior, informed the court that he would not be calling his client to give evidence. Similarly, Laura Miller, for Sayers junior, confirmed that he would also not testify.
Agreed Facts Read to Jury
On Monday, the jury at the Old Bailey was presented with a number of “agreed facts” — matters not disputed by either the prosecution or the defence. These included details of previous attacks on the Sayers family, such as vandalism of his mother's grave. Some attacks remain subject to reporting restrictions.
Junior prosecutor James Yearsley read the agreed facts, stating that “a number of individuals are known to be associated with the Freeman organised crime group.” He explained that the group has a hierarchy and that a person named John Freeman controlled the incidents against the Sayers family. Police have been aware since 2022 that the OCG was behind multiple incidents targeting the family.
Charges and Next Steps
Sayers senior, 62, and Sayers junior, 29, both from Fossway, Byker, Newcastle, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial continues, with live updates available on ChronicleLive's blog.
