Shane Watson murder accused was hyper at party, court is told
A teenager accused of murdering Shane Watson attended a house party after the fatal attack in a "hyper" mood and told revellers he had stamped on the victim, a court was told.
James Cartwright and Shylon Wishart turned up to a house party thrown by Cartwright's cousin Paul Hyde in the early hours of July 28 last year, a jury heard.
Sarah Cox, who was also at the party, today told Wolverhampton Crown Court that the pair had been in a hyper mood when they arrived at the house.
When asked by prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith what Wishart said he had done, she replied: "Shylon said that he stamped on Shane and urinated on him."
Asked if she knew how the trouble had started, she said: "They came out of Monty's and asked Shane for a fag.
"Shane did not have one. James punched him and then James told Shylon what he did and Shylon was going through his pockets.
"They took his phone, money and his car keys.
"They said they stripped him naked and urinated on him."
When asked if it had been both Cartwright and Wishart talking about the attack, she said she was "unable to remember".
The court has been told that Mr Watson had been in Monty's Bar in High Street, Sedgley, in the hours before he was attacked.
He and his partner Kelly Handley had been walking to a friend's house after leaving the bar just after 2am on July 28 when the couple became separated.
It was alleged that when she tried to contact her partner on the phone, one of the attackers answered and "callously" said: "Your boyfriend has been dealt with."
His badly beaten body was later found in an alleyway by Miss Handley and his mother Jane. His trousers and boxer shorts had been pulled down and he had suffered severe facial and head injuries.
Miss Handley earlier told the court she had pulled up his clothes when he was found.
Mr Grieves-Smith told the court: "The prosecution say this defendant and James Cartwright attacked Shane Watson and killed him.
"Quite what had been the problem for them to attack Shane Watson is unclear.
The prosecution say it was brutal and cowardly, accompanied by an attempt to humiliate him."
Cartwright, aged 18, of Sandyfields Road, has already admitted Mr Watson's murder.
Wishart, 19, of North Springfield, denies the charge. The trial against him continues.
