Gordon Gault: Elswick boy killed as part of 'beef' between teens

A 14-year-old boy was murdered as part of ongoing "beef" between rival groups of teenagers, a court has heard.

Gordon Gault died in hospital six days after being stabbed with a machete in Newcastle in November 2022.

Six youths, now aged between 16 and 18, deny murdering him during a brawl. They also deny wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to another boy aged 17.

Prosecutors told Newcastle Crown Court the stabbings were a revenge attack.

In his opening statement to jurors, prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said there was a "feud" or 'beef' as the defendants would call it" which involved "tit for tat violence and threats of violence" between two groups.

In October 2022, one of the defendants, 18-year-old Carlos Neto, was stabbed in the bottom with a chef's knife, which was known as being "cheffed", Mr Sandiford said.

He said the "humiliation" was used to "taunt or dis" Mr Neto's group, who were from the Benwell area of Newcastle.

Mr Sandiford said the defendants' group planned a "violent revenge" attack involving kidnap and stabbings.

In a Snapchat group message, Mr Neto said there would "be a murder" and he was "going for kills".

The feud erupted on 9 November when another defendant, Benedict Mbala, 18, was attacked at about midday outside his college in Gateshead, the court heard.

Mr Sandiford said the "violent and humiliating assault was filmed and quickly shared on social media", prompting Mr Mbala's group to set out for "revenge" or "GB", standing for "get back".

They were armed with at least three machetes, a kitchen knife and a lump hammer, the court heard.

Shortly after there was a confrontation in Elswick in which Mr Neto fatally stabbed Gordon in the arm with a machete, jurors were told.

The brawl was broken up by a passing motorist who sounded her horn to separate the groups, Mr Sandiford said, but not before a 17-year-old boy who cannot be identified was slashed across the back with a machete.

Two of the defendants, aged 16 and 17, are unable to be identified, but the remaining four, all aged 18, are:

Mr Sandiford said some rap lyrics and notes written on some of the defendants' phones will form part of they evidence in the trial, which could last six weeks.

The trial continues.

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