Two Sheffield men have denied murder after a man was allegedly beaten to death

Two men have denied murder after a man was allegedly beaten to death in the street following a dispute.
By Jon Cooper
Published 21st Jul 2021, 08:34 BST
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 20 how Richard Ferrie, aged 46, of Moncrieffe Road, Nether Edge, Sheffield, and Sean Holt, aged 45, of Longley Hall Way, Longley, Sheffield, have pleaded not guilty to murdering 53-year-old Paul Crossley.

Simon Kealey QC, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution allege that they jointly attacked Paul Crossley and his friend Stephen Newton in a residential street in Sheffield after a dispute between the men.”

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Mr Kealey added the alleged attack on May 15, 2020, involved Mr Crossley being struck to the neck and face and as a result he fell backwards and struck his head on the road and suffered a fractured skull and irreparable brain damage.

Pictured is deceased Paul Crossley, who died aged 53, after he was allegedly attacked in Longley, Sheffield.Pictured is deceased Paul Crossley, who died aged 53, after he was allegedly attacked in Longley, Sheffield.
Pictured is deceased Paul Crossley, who died aged 53, after he was allegedly attacked in Longley, Sheffield.

The defendants had previously crossed paths with Mr Crossley and Mr Newton on Longley Hall Way, according to Mr Kealey, and when Mr Holt had made a remark about Stephen Newton losing beer from a bag Mr Newton had allegedly struck Mr Holt with hammer or a table leg.

Mr Kealey claimed Mr Ferrie and Mr Holt later armed themselves with a golf club to exact revenge and they found Mr Crossley and Mr Newton on Longley Hall Way.

Mr Holt allegedly punched Paul Crossley to the ground, according to Mr Kealey, and Mr Ferrie allegedly struck Mr Newton who also went to the ground and was subjected to punches.

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One witness described seeing one man repeatedly hitting another man on the ground with a stick.

Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, has heard how two men have denied murder after 53-year-old Paul Crossley was allegedly beaten to death.Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, has heard how two men have denied murder after 53-year-old Paul Crossley was allegedly beaten to death.
Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, has heard how two men have denied murder after 53-year-old Paul Crossley was allegedly beaten to death.

Mr Kealey claimed: “Paul Crossley was unlawfully assaulted by the defendants and at no time did he offer violence towards them.”

Police found Mr Crossley and he was taken to hospital with bleeding on the brain and he fell into a coma and was pronounced dead on May 19, 2020.

Mr Holt told police he felt wound-up for being pulled in by the police and made no further comment, and Mr Ferrie denied any involvement in murder or encouraging anyone to commit murder.

Mr Ferrie also told police he had been attacked twice by Stephen Newton and he had decided to pick up a golf club for protection.

The trial continues.