Mark Mason murder trial jury hear defendants were 'not telling the truth'

A barrister called three men, accused of murdering Mark Mason at Home Bargains in Rhyl last October, “evasive” after concluding the case against them.

Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, made the remarks as the trial of three Liverpool men at Mold Crown Court neared its conclusion.

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 inflict grievous bodily harm on October 27 last year.

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

In summing up the Crown’s case Mr Lewis addressed what he believed was the central issue of the case.

He said: “Were they, any of them, obeying the oath when they told you they would tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

“They were evasive and were only prepared to say what would not hurt themselves or their mates, their gang members.

“They were not telling you the truth they were trying to do the opposite.”

James Davies exercised his right not to appear in the dock for the last session of the day.

He had earlier been questioned at length by Mr Lewis about why a knife had been found taped under a table at his girlfriend’s house in Cheshire.

He claimed he had left two knives, one he used for fishing and one belonging to his girlfriend, on a coffee table in her living room and didn’t know how or why they had been taped under the furniture.

In summing up the prosecution revisited evidence from witnesses who said they heard voices coming from Home Bargains’ car park at the time of the killing.

People were heard shouting “stab him, stab him, kill him, kill him”.

“What no one heard was ‘stop it, what the hell do you think are you doing? Put that knife away’,” continued Mr Lewis. “No one heard that.

“What was heard was encouragement.”

He said although there was no direct evidence of Ennis or Baines having a knife, no one was prepared to say very much at all, but the jury may wish to use that against them.

“How is that Mr Mason suffered 22 stab wounds,” said Mr Lewis, adding that the wounds were to both sides of his body.

“If they were not doing the stabbing themselves, they were encouraging their gang members to do so.

“We contend in each case the defendant on each charge is guilty.”

The trial continues.