These are the latest Liverpool ECHO headlines this morning.
Teen begged alleged killer to 'leave it' before being beaten to death
The moment a teenager was allegedly beaten to death by a group of eight men inside a mobile phone shop was described as looking like a "mosh pit" by a witness.
Michael Toohey, 18, was cornered in the Mobiles Junction shop on Monument Place, off London Road in the city centre, at around 5.46pm on Saturday, April 16 this year. Eight men and a 14-year-old boy, who allegedly alerted the others to Mr Toohey's location, are standing trial charged with his murder at Liverpool Crown Court.
Today the jury heard from a friend of Mr Toohey's, a young woman who cannot be named for legal reasons and who will be referred to as 'Woman A' by the ECHO. Gordon Cole, KC, prosecuting, played a video recording of Woman A's police interviews to the jury where she described the incident to detectives from Merseyside Police.
READ MORE: Teen beaten to death in 'war' with drug dealer who 'groomed him', jury told
She said she was with her partner and her partner's friend outside TJ Hughes on London Road, when Mr Toohey came past. She said the group were talking, when suddenly Mr Toohey "shot off" on his bike.
Woman A said she realised Mr Toohey was fleeing from a white Volkswagen Golf car which she saw "slam on" its brakes and begin following him. Mr Toohey "threw his bike" and ran into the phone shop, at which point the car pulled up close to the entrance and one of the defendants, 28-year-old Kieron Williams, jumped out and followed him inside.
Read the full story here.
Dad who was 'loudest person in the room' now struggles to speak
A dad who was once the "loudest person in the room" is now losing his voice due to a degenerative disease.
Justin Hammond, 50, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease 18 months ago. An incredibly fit and active man until a few years ago, Justin is now a wheelchair user and is paralysed from his neck down, with his condition continuing to deteriorate.
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The 50-year-old, who works as a sales director at Princes in the Liver Building, is currently being cared for at home in Sale by his family, including his parents, his two daughters Rosie, 20, and Tilly, 14, and a series of carers.
READ MORE: Flowers left for man found dead at Liverpool bus stop
Daughter Tilly said: “My dad is amazing. Every time he loses the ability to do something he just accepts it and stays positive.
“Growing up, he was always the loudest person in the room, which could be embarrassing, but now he is losing his speech which is really tough. We want to do what we can to support him for as long as we can. He’s a great dad.”
A group of colleagues from Princes will be walking from Liverpool to Sale next month to raise funds for Justin. They will be setting off on Wednesday, December 7 to walk the 35 miles from the Liver Building to Justin’s home. Read more here.
Grandad arrested and has car seized after drug addict's twisted lies
A pensioner attacked as he set off to collect his grandchildren from school felt "let down" after police arrested him thanks to the lies of a violent drug addict.
Renee Weaver, 41, jumped into the victim's car as it reversed off his driveway on a street off Sheil Road, Kensington, on January 29 last year. The convicted robber punched the victim, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, repeatedly before scrabbling around in his pockets, swiping cash and his phone, and threatening to smash his head in with a glass bottle.
Astonishingly, it was the pensioner who was arrested after Weaver, of Vulcan Street in the city centre, lied to officers claiming she was a sex worker and he had assaulted her after refusing to pay up for a sex act.
READ MORE: Man who 'always had people laughing' found dead at Kirkdale station
Merseyside Police handcuffed the stunned grandad only to realise he was in fact the victim. Liverpool Crown Court heard the pensioner felt "let down by the people who are supposed to protect us" after the incident on January 29 last year, off Sheil Road in Kensington.
In a devastating twist, the victim suffered a stroke while Weaver was awaiting trial for robbery, meaning he was too unwell to give evidence, leading to the CPS agreeing to accept pleas to the lesser offences of theft and common assault. Read the full story here.
