Scott Cooke stabbing accused texted: I'm going to jail for murder

Scott Cooke, 23, died after he was stabbed during an altercation at Monkmoor Recreation Ground in Shrewsbury on December 27 last year.

Peter Clinton, who is said to have stabbed Mr Cooke five times, sent the text to Emily Parry in the moments after.

He also sent messages to his mother, father and brother asking for help.

Clinton, 25, of Caradoc View, Hanwood, near Shrewsbury, Damen McDonough, 24, of Darville, Shrewsbury and Aaron Mark Doran, 25, of Cornmill Square, Shrewsbury, all deny murdering Mr Cooke.

They all also deny a charge of aggravated burglary in Abbots Road, Shrewsbury, the same day.

Earlier, the jury had heard that two groups, one led by Mr Cooke and the other featuring the defendants, had agreed to meet at the recreation ground after the defendants were said to have entered the home of Mr Cooke's friend Mark Williams to steal goods.

At Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, Mr Bob Price, prosecuting read to the jury a series of text messages sent by Clinton in the minutes after the attack.

He said: "A text was sent from Peter Clinton's phone to Emily Parry saying: 'Sorry, I am going to jail for murder' another was sent to his father,

Peter Clinton senior, saying: 'Dad, ring me please, can you get me I need to get out of town. I stabbed Scott and he stabbed me, I need help'.

"Another text message was sent from Peter Clinton to his mother, saying: 'Please get me, I have just been stabbed, please help me mum', before another was sent from Peter Clinton to his brother Matthew, saying: 'Matt ring me please, Scott stabbed me and I stabbed back, can you get me please."

Mr Price also read to the jury parts of Clinton's first police interview after being arrested on December 28 in Woodside, Telford.

Clinton's interview transcript said: "I didn't even want to go and be involved, but I thought I would look small if I turned around and said I wasn't coming.

"I wish I had said that now."

The trial continues.