Man accused of murdering Reece Cox was trying to 'protect' his friend, jurors told

Sebastian Jones said he had punched victim Reece Cox, aged 24, after Mr Cox had punched his friend Shaquel Halliday, a judge heard.

The 19-year-old defendant, who denies murder and other charges, told a jury he didn’t want Halliday, who is also on trial, to “get hit again”.

Mr Cox died outside The Clifton pub on Bull Ring, on August 15 last year after he attempted to break up a fight.

Six men, including Jones and Halliday, deny murder.

More from the trial:

• Reece Cox accused cannot justify kicking young dad on ground

• Reece Cox murder-accused punched and kicked victim to 'stop fighting', court told

• Reece Cox murder trial: Defendant describes how he 'very stupidly kicked out' at young father

• Reece Cox murder trial: Final kick alone could have killed young father, jury told

• Reece Cox trial: Father died from 'sustained blunt force trauma' with alcohol a contributing factor, court told

• Reece Cox: Man tells jury of attack by gang before father was killed outside pub

• 'This is not right': Jury told final words of heroic Reece Cox who died defending friend

• Reece Cox: 500 hours of CCTV trawled in Black Country murder probe

• Reece Cox murder: Trial told how father was beaten to death as he tried to help friend

Jones, who was 18 at the time of the offence, had been out with a group to celebrate Halliday’s birthday with a group of people, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

They had been to three pubs before they headed to The Clifton pub at around 11pm, before a fight broke out between one of Jones’ friends and Grant Danbury, jurors heard.

Jones told Wolverhampton Crown Court he had tried to restrain his friend but was unable to, and he had swung out at Mr Danbury who then fled toward The Clifton pub.

The 19-year-old said he had met up and walked with Halliday to where Mr Cox was being confronted to see “what was going on” and told jurors Mr Cox had looked “very aggressive”.

He told the court: “I didn’t know this man and all I saw was that he’s bigger than me, being aggressive and telling people to ‘come on’ and that was intimidating.”

Jones said he had witnessed Mr Cox punch Halliday and he “immediately went over” to punch Mr Cox in order to protect his friend and ensure he didn’t “get hit again”, a judge heard.

The defendant admitted to punching Mr Cox a number of times in the back and claimed he had been pulled into an alcove by Halliday, away from the incident, which the prosecution disputed – claiming it was the momentum caused by the victim falling, a court heard.

Jones said: “I remember getting pulled back into the alcove. I thought I was going to be attacked. It looked like he [Mr Cox] was getting up off the floor, he was on his knees going to get up.

“I picked myself up off the floor and I swung my leg out and I kicked him and got out of the situation. I felt very vulnerable in the doorway. I think I kicked him in his neck and head area, [but] I didn’t aim for his head.”

Adam Ashwin, 20, of Monument Lane, Sedgley, denies murder.

Wayne Burke, 23, of Queens Street, Pensnett; Shaquel Halliday, 22, of Shadwell Drive, Lower Gornal; Shane Jones, 26, of Orchard Grove, Lower Gornal; Ryan Nicklin, 22, of Limes Avenue, Pensnett; and Sebastian Jones, 19, of Corser Street, Dudley, deny murder, manslaughter, assault actioning actual bodily harm and violent disorder.