Stepbrother tried to restrain stab suspect

The stepbrother of a murder suspect told a jury how he was stabbed in the leg while trying to restrain his sibling when violence flared in Bilston.

Adam Shaw, aged 21, gave evidence from behind a screen at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

He told how he was stabbed after grabbing hold of 22-year-old stepbrother Ricky Shaw in Lichfield Street.

Adam Shaw said: "I ran over to help him after he was hit on the head with a bottle and grabbed his shoulders from behind with both my hands.

"As he turned round I felt a sharp pain in my left leg.

"I looked down and saw a gash wound through my jeans. I did not see the actual knife go in my leg but I felt it.

"I said 'you've stabbed me Ricky'. He mumbled something. I pushed him and said 'just go' and he did. That was the last time I saw him.

"I think it was my brother who stabbed me but it happened so quickly. I never saw him with a knife in his hand. I did not see anyone with a knife."

Adam, who was appearing as a witness for the prosecution, said he saw Tom Berry and Talvinder Singh lying wounded on the ground after his stepbrother had moved away.

Both had been stabbed by Ricky Shaw — and 34-year-old father-of-two Mr Berry, a guest at a wedding reception taking place at Bilston Town Hall, died in hospital from his wounds the next day, the court has been told.

Tragedy struck when guests from the reception clashed with people who had gathered following a fight outside the Spread Eagle.

The pub is opposite side of Lichfield Street to the town hall.

Adam Shaw, who had been at the Spread Eagle, said he could remember little of what happened shortly before midnight on July 10 because he had drunk so much.

He said he might have seen his step brother "square up" to Stephen Howell, who was stabbed seven times during the fracas but could not be certain.

Ricky Shaw denies murdering Mr Berry, attempting to murder Mr Howell and Mr Singh and assaulting Adam Shaw.

The trial continues.