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War between families left one man dead, court hears





The trial of Joshua Anderson, aged 22, from Thatcham, his brother Matthew Anderson, aged 20, from The Haywards, Thatcham, and Dean Robinson, aged 32, of no fixed abode, began at Reading Crown Court, as the trio stand accused of the murder of Newbury man Darren Lock (pictured), aged 38, of Bramble Court, Newbury, on the night of March 16.
Mr Lock was found with 19 marks to his scalp, legs and hands, ruled to be caused by a knife or knives, five of which were stab wounds. He bled to death in his flat from a wound sustained to his calf, a Home Office pathologist ruled.
The three men are also accused of the attempted murder of Mr Lock’s friend, Daniel Black, aged 33, of Northway, Newbury.
Mr Black and Mr Lock were both attacked in Mr Lock’s Bramble Court flat at about 10.20pm on Friday, March 16.
In his opening statement to the jury, Neil Moore, prosecuting, said a feud between the families, which had grown worse over the weeks was the catalyst for the tragic events of that night.
He said the Anderson brothers were spotted looking for members of the Black family earlier in the day, and had used Dean Robinson's friendship with Darren Lock to gain entry to his flat that night, on the pretence that Mr Robinson was alone.
Mr Robinson denies any involvement with the murders and said he did not know the Anderson brothers prior to the evening.
He said he had chanced upon the pair when they visited the Northway flat of Mr Robinson's friend Ian McArther, and had accompanied them to the flat of Mr Lock to try to calm them down.
Mr Robinson was later arrested at midnight at Mr McArthur’s flat, where he protested his innocence to police and blamed the stabbings on the pair.
All three men deny murder and attempted murder.
"Darren Lock had absolutely nothing to do with this feud and he ended up losing his life in tragic circumstances," Mr Moore said.
"It is very likely that had he known the Andersons were present, he wouldn't have let them into his flat.
"Upon doing so they found Daniel Black, and when Mr Robinson introduced him they realised who he was and viciously attacked him," Mr Moore said.
The prosecution claim the events were pre-meditated, and pointed to several pieces of evidence to back up their case.
Weeks earlier during a heated exchange outside a kebab shop in Newbury, Joshua Anderson allegedly threatened and later attacked Mr Black's sister Leanne, culminating in an argument between the pair which spilled into threats sent across social networking site Facebook, read out in court.
Mr Black's brother Robert Black was the first intended target, according to Mr More, having been threatened by the Anderson's earlier in the evening and also on several occasions weeks before during meetings in Newbury.
On the night of the attacks, Joshua is accused of repeatedly shouting "I've got a knife and I'm going to stab you with it, I'm going to kill all you Blacks, I'm a bad man," at both Black brothers, according to witnesses.
A green balaclava was found in nearby York Road, with DNA belonging to Joshua Anderson, and a receipt for two balaclavas, bought with cash from the army surplus store in Thatcham earlier in the day was found on his person.
Upon searching Joshua Anderson's residence a crudely sketched drawing of the Northway estate with the address of Robert Black was found, along with plans to buy a jerry can and petrol.
The Anderson brothers are also accused of causing actual bodily harm to Newbury resident Richard Philips on the same night.
Mr Philips was violently attacked on Stroud Green by two men after a night at the nearby pub The Plough on the Green.
The men were alleged to say they had "killed Locky" earlier in the evening, and threatened a witness who stopped to try and help out with more violence.
Joshua Anderson has pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, but his brother Matthew has protested his innocence.
The pair are also accused of attacking another set of brothers, Rory and Rocky Rowbotham, in the early hours of Saturday, March 17, threatening them and another group of people - including an off-duty police officer, near The Swan Inn in Thatcham.
Witnesses stated the men asked if the group knew the Black family, and were said to have repeatedly said they had killed a man earlier in the night and were looking for more trouble "with the Blacks".
The jury of eight women and four men was sworn in on Friday, with His Honour Judge John Reddihough sitting.
The trial continues.



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