Family members of Michael Toohey left court in tears as a murder trial heard horrific details of the teenager's fatal injuries.
Eight men and a 14-year-old boy are currently facing a jury at Liverpool Crown Court accused of murdering the teen at a city centre internet café earlier this year. The 18-year-old died after allegedly being chased into Mobiles Junction and Internet Café on Monument Place, off London Road, and savagely beaten by a gang who were "called in" by the youth in the early evening of April 16.
Jurors also previously heard that Mr Toohey - who was due to become a dad - had been pressured into selling drugs by a man referred to as "Gerry", with his death coming against the background of a "war" between rival dealers. Dr Jonathan Medcalf - who conducted a post-mortem investigation following his death - was called to give evidence today, Wednesday.
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The pathologist outlined a series of injuries he had sustained across his body - including bruises and abrasions to the head and neck, with the most distinct found on the left-hand side of his face. Internal bruising was discovered in the neck, with further notable wounds to the legs.
Dr Medcalf said: "There were rather extensive injuries to head and neck in form of multiple bruises or abrasions. There were obvious asphyxiation features which can form in various circumstances, although the pattern here in my opinion is best explained by neck compression.
"Trauma to the upper face and scalp showed clear patterning indicative of forceful contact with a manmade object of some kind, very suspicious of a footwear mark in the context of this case. There were significant injuries to the left lower leg - a series of bruised abrasions associated with deep soft tissue injuries.
"This would have been caused by forceful impacts with an object. The size and shape is clearly very different from the patterning seen to the face, so probably a different object.
"In summary, I believe this young male was subjected to a violent fatal assault including multiple impacts to his head and blunt force trauma to the neck. The latter involved forceful compression."
The pathologist said this may have involved the deceased being placed into a chokehold or being stamped on. He recorded a cause of death of blunt force head and neck injuries.
Members of Mr Toohey's family appeared tearful throughout Dr Medcalf's evidence. Three women walked out at one point, while others could be seen comforting one another.
In the dock alongside the 14-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - were 28-year-old Keiron Williams, of no fixed address but formerly of Grieve Road in Fazakerley, 32-year-old Anthony Williams, of Hillbrook Drive in Walton, 33-year-old Steven McInerney, of Bridport Street in the city centre, 24-year-old Michael Williams, of Carlake Grove in Walton, 21-year-old Callum Hewell, of Stratton Road in Kirkby, 25-year-old Matthew Wynn, of Mosslawn Road in Kirkby, 20-year-old Jack Knox, of Oakdale Close in Kirkby, and 26-year-old David Shelley, of Chiltern Drive in Kirkby. All nine defendants deny murder and manslaughter, and the case continues.
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