A man accused of murder bought and smoked cannabis to "calm down" after reading news of the incident in the ECHO.
Anthony Williams is one of nine defendants currently standing trial charged with murdering Michael Toohey at an internet café in Liverpool city centre. The 18-year-old died after allegedly being chased into Mobiles Junction and Internet Café on Monument Place, off London Road, and battered by a gang who were "called in" by a 14-year-old boy.
Jurors previously heard that the deceased had been pressured into selling drugs by a man referred to as "Gerry", with the incident coming against the background of a "war" between rival dealers. However, co-defendant Keiron Williams claimed that he raced to the scene after being told that Mr Toohey had threatened the youth with a knife and that the teen had then brandished this weapon once he pursued him into the shop.
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His brother Anthony Williams was the second of the suspects called to give evidence from the witness box today, Tuesday. He said he saw his younger sibling "leaping over the cabinet" into the back room as he entered the shop.
Williams, of Hillbrook Drive in Walton, then vaulted the counter himself "to remove Keiron from the shop". The 32-year-old said: "It was quite dark in the room.
"There was no light on by the time I got into the back room. Michael Toohey was lying on the floor and Keiron was standing over him."
Williams said he did not see a knife or his brother punching or stamping on Mr Toohey. He also denied having acted "violently in any way" himself.
One of his Airpods was found at the scene in the aftermath. Williams said of this: "As the shopkeeper came in, he's been shouting and a bit irate.
"He's pushing and shoving, trying to get everyone out of the shop. That's when it's fell from me."
Williams said he then left the premises and rode away on a bicycle he had travelled to the internet café on. He said: "It was a bit of a shock.
"Keiron was in the back room and the lad was laid out on the floor. I didn't have any idea what went on beforehand."
Shortly before 8.30pm, Williams received a phone call from co-defendant Steven McInerney in which he said he was being alerted to an ECHO article reporting on a police cordon being in place on London Road. He told the court: "I think Steven was calling me to let me know to look on the ECHO.
"There was a story up about what had happened earlier on in that day. I think it was later on in the night that an actual murder investigation had been launched.
"I phoned to buy some cannabis. After I saw the story, I thought I'd smoke some weed to calm me down a bit.
"I was a bit nervous as to what would go on. It was just my presence alone.
"I stopped using my phone after that. I didn't want the police to track me through my mobile."
Williams was only arrested a month after Mr Toohey's death. He had left his home on the evening on April 16, saying of his whereabouts in the mean time: "I was literally on couches from here to there, in friend's houses - I know police would have eventually turned up at my address looking to arrest me or my brother."
Defence counsel David Temkin KC concluded his questioning by asking: "Was this a planned attack on Michael Toohey?"
Williams replied: "No, most definitely not."
Mr Temkin asked: "Did you attack Michael Toohey?"
Williams responded: "I didn't."
Mr Temkin: "Were you involved in any violence towards Michael Toohey?"
Williams: "None whatsoever."
Mr Temkin: "Did you strike him with a bike seat?"
Williams: "Most definitely not."
Mr Temkin: "Did you strike him at all?"
Williams: "No, I never."
Mr Temkin: "Did you see anybody attacking Michael Toohey?"
Williams: "I'm sorry, but I didn't."
Mr Temkin: "Did you intend to encourage anybody to attack Michael Toohey?"
Williams: "Not at all."
Mr Temkin: "Did you intend to assist anybody else to attack him?"
Williams: "No."
Anthony Williams, 28-year-old Keiron Williams, of no fixed address but formerly of Grieve Road in Fazakerley, 33-year-old McInerney, of Bridport Street in the city centre, and the 14-year-old boy - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - deny murder and manslaughter. Another brother - 24-year-old Michael Williams, of Carlake Grove in Walton - as well as 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 have pleaded not guilty to the same charges and the case continues.
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