One of the three men in court following a double killing in Houghton Regis has been cleared by a judge.
Following a legal argument, Judge Michael Simon ruled that Mark Griffiths, aged 41, of Leagrave High Street, Luton had no case to answer on two charges of attempted murder and two of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Judge Simon told the jury: “I have concluded as a matter of law that the allegations against Mr Griffiths should go no further.”
The trial, at Luton Crown Court, of Anthony Bennison, 25, of no fixed address,
and Nicholas Papworth, 33, of Amble Close, Houghton Regis is continuing.
The two men deny charges of murder, attempted murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
The jury earlier heard that two men were murdered and one was left fighting for his life in what the prosecution described an “utterly senseless” attack following a baby shower in a pub.
Adam Fanelli, 39, was fatally stabbed in the chest when he went out after hearing shouting and screaming outside his home.
Patrick Howard, 27, was paralysed from a stab to the neck before being dragged along the road underneath a car.
The third victim Mason Jordan, aged 26, was stabbed eight times in the chest and neck, but survived.
The jury heard there was a ‘baby shower’ celebration at The Crown Pub in Houghton Regis in the evening of Saturday 12th November last year.
Prosecutor Simon Denison KC told the jury the violence that followed was “utterly senseless” and “truly extraordinary”.
Patrick Howard and Mason Jordan, had been drinking at the Chequers Pub in Houghton Regis. When it closed at around half past midnight on Sunday 13th November last year they moved onto to The Crown. The defendants were there.
Mr Denison said Mason Jordan was very drunk and threw a punch at Papworth. There was a brief fight with both ending up on the floor before they were separated by others, including Patrick Howard. Mason Jordan left the pub with Patrick Howard and others to go home.
Papworth, who had slight bruising around his eye and a small cut to his lip, was said to be furious.
Bennison is said driven his silver BMW to look for the two men, finding them in nearby Drury Lane. “He drove at them, at speed, a number of times, in particular at Mason Jordan and Patrick Howard, using his car as a weapon to try to hit them and cause serious injury, “ said the prosecutor.
To try to protect themselves they picked up pieces of wood and used them to hit the car. Adam Fanelli, who knew Mason Jordan and Patrick Howard, left his home when he heard shouting, screaming and the revving of the engine.
Resident Joshua Brewer told the jury he was woken at around 1am by the noise of a vehicle revving its engine. He said a BMW was driven at a group of men. On one occasion it crashed into a road sign and fence. When the BMW drove at them for the 6th time he said one of the group had picked up a fence post and threw it at the windscreen before the BMW was driven off.
Bennison drove back to The Crown where Papworth and Griffiths were waiting.
Griffiths got into the front passenger seat of the BMW and Papworth into his black VW Golf.
CCTV played to the jury showed the BMW leaving the pub followed by the black VW Golf.
Mr Brewer dialled 999 for the police and after about 5 minutes saw the BMW return to Drury Lane followed by a black VW Golf and a third black car before they all drove off.
The prosecutor alleged the BMW and Golf were driven to Tithe Farm Road where the group now were. He said Bennison and Papworth used their cars as weapons driving fast at Mason Jordan, Patrick Howard and Adam Fanelli.”
Bennison is said to have stopped in the middle of the road and got out of the car armed with a knife.
He went on: “Mason Jordan ran away and Bennison chased after him. Bennison slipped over. As he got up, Adam Fanelli went to hit him with the piece of wood he was holding. But that was no match for Bennison with a knife. He stabbed Adam Fanelli twice in the chest.
“Mason Jordan picked up the wood Adam Fanelli had dropped as he was stabbed. But he was also no match for Bennison with a knife. Bennison stabbed him 8 times in quick succession in his chest and his neck.”
The jury heard Patrick Howard was leaning into the BMW towards Griffiths, who had remained in the front passenger seat. Griffiths got out of the car and backed away with his hands out. Bennison is said to have run up to Patrick Howard from behind and stabbed him in the neck. The wound caused instant paralysis and collapsed on the road.
“ For good measure Bennison then kicked him in the head before walking away.As he did Papworth returned still using his car as a weapon. Mason Jordan was moving towards Patrick Howard as he lay in the road. Papworth drove fast, straight at Patrick Howard.
“Mason Jordan was able to get out of the way, but Patrick Howard paralysed on the ground wasn’t. Papworth drove straight over him. The car dragged his body along the road for many metres before it fell free of the wheels.
“Papworth didn’t stop or even slow down. He sped away. Bennison and Griffiths got back into the BMW and drove away. They left a scene of utter devastation,” said Mr Denison.
He said Patrick Howard was killed instantly. Adam Fanelli collapsed and died on the forecourt of one of the houses, just along the road. Mason Jordan collapsed as he tried to tend to Patrick Howard it the road. The emergency services arrived in time to get him to the hospital where he was saved by the skill of the surgeons and doctors.
Anthony Bennison, 25, of Millfield Road, Edgware denies charges of murder, attempted murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Nicholas Papworth ,33, of Amble Close, Houghton Regis denies charges of murder, attempted murder, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Case proceeding
