'Girlfriend urged partner to go home before brutal attack'

MURDER TRIAL HEARS EVIDENCE FROM WITNESS AT THE SCENE

- CARL EVE

A JURY in the trial of two men accused of murdering a 50-year-old, who suffered serious injuries in a Stoke street last May, heard how his partner said it was time to go home before the brutal attack.

Cowin Fuoco-Fisher, aged 25 and James Caswell, aged 28, are on trial for the murder of Stefan Shotton following an incident which took place in the early hours of May 28 last year, outside the Co-operative store in Devonport Road, Stoke. Mr Shotton was later taken to Derriford Hospital suffering serious head injuries, including a bleed on the brain. Despite surgery he never regained consciousness and died on June 6.

Prosecutor Simon Jones told the jury at Plymouth Crown Court how Fuoco-Fisher of Stuart Road, Plymouth and Caswell, of Tailyour Road, Plymouth, had intended to cause Mr Shotton serious harm when they attacked him, punching and kicking him to the head in a joint attack.

Det Con Caroline Prince, the officer in the case, confirmed that CCTV footage from the Co-operative store, outside which Mr Shotton was attacked, had a 41-second gap which did not pick up one of the assault incidents. The jury had previously heard that Fuoco-Fisher had initially punched Mr Shotton in the jaw at the rear garden area of the Masonic Inn.