Jury sees graphic film of stabbing

James Friel was knifed three times after he had battered two youths with a baton, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard.

Three teenagers were accused of attacking Friel (25) at a common close in Merrick Terrace, Tannochside, on January 31 last year.

One of them, Sean Banks, of Viewpark, died after being stabbed in Uddingston in September. He was 18 years old.

Christopher Cairns (18), of Laburnum Road, Viewpark, and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named, are now on trial. They deny assaulting Mr Friel to his severe injury.

Imran Bashir, prosecuting, showed the jury CCTV footage of the alleged attack which happened shortly after 6.30 in the morning.

Sean Banks was seen holding a baton, but Friel pushed his way into the common close, grabbed the baton and hit him with it despite the best efforts of Banks’s mother to keep the pair apart.

Cairns then appeared on the scene and struck Friel twice on the head with a bottle which smashed.

Friel retaliated by hitting Cairns with the baton which broke.

By this point Sean Banks had disappeared into the stairwell, but he returned almost immediately with the 16-year-old. Each was armed with a knife and the 16-year-old could be seen stabbing Friel twice while Banks delivered one blow with his knife.

Cairns, Banks and the third youth left the scene and Friel, despite his stab wounds, walked out of the close.

Later he was taken to hospital for treatment. The court heard he too was charged with assault following the incident.

The trial of Cairns and the 16-year-old continues.