Jury in Mark Mason murder trial sent home for the weekend

The jury in the Mark Mason murder trial have been sent home for the weekend so a large TV can be set up to scrutinise CCTV footage of the crime.

Jurors requested a larger screen to watch the incident as they continued deliberations for a second day at Mold Crown Court.

Dad-of-two, 48-year-old Mr Mason was stabbed to death in the Home Bargains car park in Rhyl on October 27 last year.

Mark Mason was killed in the car park of Home Bargains in Rhyl in October last year

The prosecution have claimed the murder happened during a drugs turf war.

Judge Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said the court was due to finish at 1pm in any case and sent the jury, consisting of six men and six women, home while a large screen was sorted out for them.

“You must not speak to anybody about the case until you come back,” Judge Davies said.

Anthony Baines, 31, of Sutcliffe Street, Liverpool, denies the murder of Mark Mason in Rhyl
(Photo: Andrew Price/View Finder Pictures)

James Davies, 21, of Moscow Drive, Liverpool, Anthony Baines, 31, of Sutcliffe Street, Liverpool and Mark Ennis, 31, of Bedford Road, Liverpool , deny murdering Mr Mason and maliciously wounding Justin Trickett and Sam Illidge with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Jake Melia, 21, of Eastbourne Road, Liverpool, has admitted the charges.

The three accused appeared in the dock again today as the jury came back with questions about culpability of any defendants who did not have knives, but were at the scene.

Within a minute of these vehicles entering Rhyl's Home Bargain car park Mark Mason was found dying with multiple knife wounds — Within a minute of these vehicles entering Rhyl’s Home Bargain car park Mark Mason was found dying with multiple knife wounds
(Photo: North Wales Police)

Judge Davies told them it was not enough for them being present to convict them of murder or manslaughter, they would have to had actively encouraged the killing to be found guilty.

The trial has heard Mr Mason was stabbed more than 20 times during the attack at the Home Bargains car park.

John McDermott QC, representing Anthony Baines, and Nigel Power QC, representing Mark Ennis, suggested their clients did not drive to Rhyl with the intention of murdering Mr Mason and were not at the car door when he was stabbed.

Davies has admitted having a knife, which he used to bang on the window of the car Mr Mason was a passenger in, but denies it was used in the attack.

The jury will continue deliberations over verdicts for a third day on Monday.