A jury has begun deliberating in the violent disorder trial involving three members of the Sayers family. Stephen Sayers, his two sons and three other men are accused of attacking a Ford pickup by throwing glasses, bottles and punches at it on Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle.
Newcastle Crown Court has heard the car was linked to another family with whom the Sayers had allegedly been embroiled in a feud with. Prosecutors allege Stephen Sayers, 61, Stephen Sayers Jnr, 33, Thomas Sayers, 31, Anthony Brown, 24, Lee Jamieson, 22 and Bradley Fraser, 26, acted in anger and with aggression towards the vehicle.
Defence claims self-defence
But the defence argue they were acting in self-defence amid 15 previous attacks on the family by the Freeman organised crime gang. The defence say when the pickup pulled up outside Thomas Sayers' bar and pointed at a group of people drinking outside, they would have feared another attack and acted to chase the car and its occupants away.
Judge Edward Bindloss told the jury the burden of proving the case is on the prosecution and if the jury are less than sure, the verdict must be not guilty. He also said they must consider each defendant separately.
Legal directions on violent disorder and self-defence
The judge also said for a guilty verdict to the charge of violent disorder, the prosecution must prove that “three or more persons present together used or threatened unlawful violence and the defendant was one of those persons who used or threatened unlawful violence and their conduct taken together would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety”.
Judge Bindloss also explained the law on self-defence to the jury. He said: “If someone genuinely believes they are under attack or about to be attacked, they are entitled to use force for the purpose of defending themselves and or others and or property but only if they use no more than reasonable force to do so.”
“Did the defendant genuinely believe he was under attack or about to be attacked? If not, no defence of self-defence arises.”
All six defendants deny violent disorder and the trial continues.
