THE Carlisle Crown Court jury who will decide the outcome of the Lee McKnight murder trial has now heard all of the evidence as the case moved into his final phase.

Throughout much of yesterday, the judge in the case, the Honourable Mr Justice Hilliard, guided the jury through the options they will have as they consider the role of each defendant and what possible offences they may have committed.

The judge explained that all six defendants - Jamie Davison, 26, of Beverley Rise, Harraby; Arron Graham, 26, of Blackwell Road, Currock; Jamie Lee Roberts, 18, of Grey Street, Carlisle; his father Paul Roberts, 51, also of Grey Street; Coral Edgar, 26, of Charles Street, her mother Carol Edgar, 47, also of Charles Street - may be guilty of other offences.

All deny murder.

The prosecution say they are guilty of that allegation.

Davison, Graham, and Jamie Lee Roberts are accused of subjecting Mr McKnight to a severe beating at a house in Charles Street after Coral Edgar allegedly "lured" him to her Charles Street home.

Carol Edgar and Paul Roberts allegedly helped - she by providing transport to remove Mr McKnight from the address and he by providing a change of clothing and destroying bloodstained garments.  

But, said the judge, the jury have an option to consider whether the six are guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

With the exception of Paul Roberts, said the judge, the jury can also consider whether the defendants are guilty of intentionally causing Lee McKnight grievous bodily harm while he was at Coral Edgar’s home in the early hours of July 24 last year when he died.

Again with the exception of Paul Roberts, the jury could also consider whether the other five defendants are guilty of causing Mr McKnight actual bodily harm, said the judge.

The judge further directed the jury to consider the possible offence of 'assisting an offender' - in Jamie Davison’s case by concealing the Nissan jeep which was used to transport Mr McKnight to the River Caldew where he was found.

The same allegation should be considered against Arron Graham for the same reason; and in Jamie Lee Roberts’ case it can be considered on the basis that he allegedly facilitated the removal of bloodstained clothing from Charles Street.

Coral Edgar should be considered as potentially guilty of that offence through allegedly 'facilitating' the transport of Mr McKnight from Charles Street to the river.

In Carol Edgar’s case, said the judge, that offence would arise if the jury agreed that she had provided a vehicle – the Nissan Navara – for transporting Mr McKnight to the river.

For Paul Roberts, said the judge, the jury should consider if he is guilty by helping to remove or conceal clothing from Charles Street on the morning when Mr McKnight died.

The jury also heard prosecutor Timothy Cray QC begin his closing speech for the prosecution. He said Mr McKnight was “beaten to the point of death” after he arrived at Charles Street on the morning of July 34.

Between arriving there at 2.40 am and being taken from the house at 3.15am, said Mr Cray, there had been plenty of opportunity to get him medical help.

"One point they all do agree is that Lee was alive when he left Charles Street...and that Lee was in a terrible way after that beating. No-one suggests there was a further attack in the car ir at the river."

Yet an “inhumane” decision was taken by all six defendants to "sign up to finishishing him off," said the QC.

A pathologist concluded Mr McKnight, 26, who was able to swim, was still breathing when he was put into the river but he was so badly injured he was unable to help himself.

He died from drowning, which was in turn the result of him having been so severely beaten and then being put into the water.

The trial resumes today.