The veteran died following an incident in Hull city centre earlier this year
Martin Chadburn died in April(Image: hull4heroes.org.uk)
Five people – including twin sisters – accused of murdering 53-year-old Army veteran Martin Chadburn, a Hull 4 Heroes development officer, during “street violence” have gone on trial. They were brought before Hull Crown Court in custody and entered pleas for the first time to murder and an alternative lesser charge of manslaughter.
Before the court were 20-year-old twins Britney Naylor, of Dibsdane, Orchard Park estate, north Hull, and Bethany Naylor, of Deerhurst Grove, Bransholme, Hull. Also in court were Kristjan Suits, 35, of Queens Road, Hull, as well as Lucasz Matusiak, 27, of Needlers Way, Hull, and Shaytoyia Doherty-Moore, 21, of Peter Street, Blackpool.
They all denied murdering Mr Chadburn on April 21 as well as manslaughter. A jury was sworn in but it was sent away until Tuesday, when the prosecution is due to open its case fully.
At the moment, there are 14 jurors but two of those will later be released, assuming that no problems have been raised by the other 12 that might mean that they could not continue. The estimated length of the trial is four weeks.
Prosecutor David Brooke KC gave the jury brief details of the case. He said that the incident happened in Hull city centre during the early hours of Sunday, April 19.
Mr Chadburn and a male friend had been out for the night. The three women, the Naylor twins and Doherty-Moore, came into contact with them and it “led to some violence”.
The other two men, Suits and Matusiak, became involved. It was a case of “street violence and a joint enterprise”, claimed Mr Brooke. Mr Chadburn was seriously injured and he died two days later in hospital.
The five were further remanded in custody. A large number of people, including representatives of Hull 4 Heroes, were in the public gallery for the hearing.
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