Teen denies murder
A teenager accused of murdering Chris Poole in Hampden Park took to the stand this week and denied ‘kicking his head like a football’.
Shane Noble, 19, is standing trial for murder with a 15-year-old youth, who cannot be named because of his age.
Both deny the murder of 46-year-old Chris Poole who died after an attack on August 16. The court case is currently taking place at Lewes Crown Court.
On Wednesday (January 30), Shane Noble gave evidence and told the court he had punched Mr Poole but used ‘reasonable force’ because he believed his co-defendant, was going to be assaulted by Mr Poole.
Noble said he was in another friend’s flat, above the scene of the incident at the Premier shop, smoking cannabis when he heard his co-defendant was in trouble.
The court heard Noble had attended boxing classes in the past and had been given the nickname ‘One Bang’.
Noble said he punched Mr Poole in the face as he turned to look at the youth after tying up his dogs.
The defendant told the court he used his less dominant left hand to punch Mr Poole and said, “I could smell alcohol and he was an older guy.
“It wasn’t a fact I wanted to go here and cause this guy serious harm.”
Noble explained Mr Poole ‘stumbled’ to the floor and he moved back after the punch. Noble admitted to adopting the ‘boxing stance’.
He showed the jury his clenched fists with his forearms pointing out to demonstrate.
Noble said Mr Poole got up and looked angry.
He told the court, “He said ‘now you are going to get it’.”
The 19-year-old defendant said the youth then approached Mr Poole from behind and punched him causing him to fall to the floor.
Noble said he and the youth then left the scene.
Matthew Farmer, prosecuting, said numerous witnesses, had reported seeing a kick to the head like a football.
The 15-year-old co-defendant told the court it was Noble who delivered that kick.
When asked if he had kicked Mr Poole, Noble said, “Certainly not. I only hit him once.”
The prosecution also revealed that Noble had written an abusive message on the wood in the dock of Lewes Crown Court during the course of the trial which called his youth co-defendant a ‘snitch’.
When questioned about the scribbling by Mr Farmer, Noble said, “Snitching can be taken two ways – telling the truth or telling a lie.
“He [the youth] is clearly telling a lie in this courtroom.”
It was suggested by Christine Laing QC, the defence barrister for the youth, that Noble’s ADHD and psychosis caused him to get into fights.
“Because of your condition you become easily agitated and get in to frequent fights?” she asked.”
Noble admitted he had not been taking his medication and had been smoking cannabis at the time of the incident but said his conditions just made him an ‘excitable chap’.
Ms Laing said a psychiatrist report had suggested he couldn’t always remember the details of fights and had ‘blackouts’.
She asked if this had happened during the incident with Mr Poole.
Noble said, “Certainly not.
“I can clearly remember this one.”
The trial is expected to conclude this week.*
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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