Harry Baker accused talked about burning clothes after police announced murder investigation, court hears

One of the people accused of murdering teenager Harry Baker was overheard talking about burning clothes to "get rid of evidence" after learning police were investigating the teen's death, a court has heard.

Peter McCarthy, 36, is one of seven people on trial at Newport Crown Court following the death of Harry - whose body was was found at a container terminal in an industrial estate in Barry, in August last year.

The prosecution alleges that 17-year-old was murdered in a dispute over drugs.

Harry was stabbed several times and suffered injuries to his brain, stomach and pancreas.

Ryan Palmer, Peter McCarthy, Raymond Thompson, Leon Clifford, Lewis Evans, Leon Symons and a 16-year-old boy all deny murder and are on trial.

On day seven of the case, the trial heard evidence from bar worker Julian Matthews - who gave McCarthy and his girlfriend a lift to Newport on the day police announced a murder investigation.

Mr Matthews said as they drove near the docks on the way to Newport they saw a lot of police activity, and McCarthy began making a number of phone calls.

He said: “He s**t himself. I knew he was going down. He knew what he had done.”

Mr Matthews added McCarthy then telephoned his mum, and said he might be getting arrested for murder - and that if the police went to her house he would hand himself in.

The witness also said that during the journey, McCarthy talked about burning his clothes “to get rid of evidence”.

He also told jurors he heard McCarthy make a call to an unknown person.

Recalling the chat, Mr Matthew said: "He (McCarthy) said ‘You f***ing idiot. Why didn’t you throw the knife in docks? Why did you throw it in the f***ing hedge for?'"

The trial also heard evidence from the ex-girlfriend of the defendant Leon Clifford, Jessica Davies.

She said she asked Clifford about his involvement in the alleged murder.

Miss Davies said: "I knew when he said he would not swear on his mother’s grave he was lying. I told him I wanted nothing more to do with him - we were over.”

As well as the main charge of murder, there are other indictments the defendants are facing.

Palmer, 33, from Aberaeron Close, Barry; McCarthy, 36, from Bassett Street, Barry; and Thompson, 47, from Hillary Rise, Barry; deny violent disorder.

Symons, 21, who does not have a fixed address; and the 16-year-old boy also deny violent disorder. Evans, 61, from Merganser Court, Barry, denies assisting an offender.