Two of the five people accused of murdering 53-year-old Martin Chadburn, a Hull 4 Heroes development officer, during “street violence” in the early hours of the morning will now face only a charge of manslaughter. Mr Chadburn, an Army veteran, was found slumped unconscious in the street with an “non-survivable” brain injury.
Three young women – including twin sisters – are said to have been helped by two men in a violent street attack, it is claimed at Hull Crown Court. But the court has been told that murder charges against one of the twins, Bethany Naylor, and one of the two men, Kristjan Suits, will not now be pursued and they will face only a charge of manslaughter.
Before the court are 20-year-old twins Britney Naylor, of Dibsdane, Orchard Park estate, north Hull, and Bethany Naylor, of Deerhurst Grove, Bransholme, Hull, as well as Kristjan Suits, 35, of Queens Road, Hull, and Lucasz Matusiak, 27, of Needlers Way, Hull, along with Shaytoyia Farrow, 21, of Peter Street, Blackpool. They all deny murdering Mr Chadburn on April 21 as well as the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Judge John Thackray KC told the jury on Friday that he had decided that there was not sufficient evidence for a murder charge against Bethany Naylor and Suits. This was because the prosecution had to prove an intention to cause grievous bodily harm or what was also known as really serious harm.
Judge Thackray said that he was not satisfied that a jury could be sure, given CCTV evidence and the speed of the incident, that there was an intention by the two to cause really serious harm. The two had to be found not guilty of murder.
On the direction of the judge, Bethany Naylor and Suits were found not guilty of murder. The manslaughter charge remains for them and the other three defendants.
Prosecutor Adrian Strong told the jury, in agreed facts, that Britney Naylor and Bethany Naylor had previous convictions for assault offences. Britney Naylor pleaded guilty before Hull magistrates in September 2023 to assault causing actual bodily harm following an incident in October 2021.
Bethany Naylor had a youth caution from police for battery arising from the same incident. The sisters also had later convictions for assaulting police as emergency workers and battery. Britney Naylor had a conviction for using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
The prosecution has closed its case. It claims that the incident happened in Hull city centre after about 3.30am on Sunday, April 19. Police were called and they found a man, Mr Chadburn, on the ground, bleeding from the head and unresponsive. It quickly became apparent that Mr Chadburn had been left seriously injured after a street fight.
The emergency services were called and he was taken to hospital. He was found to have a “non-survivable brain injury” and he died two days later on April 21. He had suffered a fatal bleed on the blow caused by a blow or blows to the head.
Mr Chadburn and a male friend of more than 35 years had been out for the night. They had been in the city centre since 6pm on the Saturday night and they were “intoxicated”.
The last pub they visited was The Star in Carr Lane and they left about 3.30pm to get a taxi home. The three women, the Naylor twins and Farrow, came into contact with them in the area of The Star.
Bethany Naylor is said to have stubbed out a cigarette on the neck of Mr Chadburn’s friend. Farrow and Britney Naylor followed her. Suits and Matusiak are said to have become involved.
They had earlier been on their own separate night out but saw what was happening. Britney Naylor punched Mr Chadburn in the face and he threw a punch at her, it is claimed.
Matusiak is said to have punched him five times, causing Mr Chadburn to roll onto the ground. Farrow is said to have stamped on his back while he was on the ground.
There was a tear in one of Mr Chadburn’s arteries, and he suffered a brain injury. The trial, estimated to last four or five weeks, continues.
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