Interviews of Linthorpe pub brawl accused read to jury

Police interviews with people alleged to have caused violent disorder in a mass pub brawl were read to a jury.

Seven men and one woman are on trial at Teesside Crown Court in connection with the fight at the Park Hotel, in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, last October.

Benji Bolsenbroek, who was out wetting his baby’s head, was involved in the incident and died shortly afterwards.

The prosecution do not seek to attribute responsibility for Mr Bolesenbroek’s death to any of the defendants.

The jury has been told that on Saturday, October 7 a group of friends were out celebrating with Mr Bolsenbroek.

Trouble erupted between Mr Bolsenbroek’s group and another group in the Park Hotel. Mr Bolsenbroek is seen on CCTV fighting with Paul Kime.

Benjamin Jones, who was out with Mr Bolsenbroek said in his interview that his group saw Kime and his brother Michael earlier on in the evening.

He said the Kime brothers had congratulated Mr Bolsenbroek and shook his hand.

Benji Bolsenbroek

Jones, 24, admitted throwing two bottles during the fight because he “got hit with a chair or table and then a glass”.

He said: “At the end of the day I couldn’t just stand there getting glasses and that thrown at me. What if I was hit in the neck and died? I would be in the same situation - my kids wouldn’t have a dad.”

Anthony Conway, 24, said he saw Mr Bolsenbroek in the Park Hotel and he “had never seen him so happy”.

Conway said he tried to pull two men apart during the fight before striking two punches to get one of the men to stop.

Justin Heward, 24, who was with Mr Bolsenbroek’s group said he threw a glass at the floor before he left the pub.

He said Mr Bolsenbroek, who had a bump on his forehead, was breathless after the fight.

The four accused in the Bolsenbroek group are Blaine McCarthy, 22, of Blackhall Sands, Benjamin Jones, 24, of, Hesleden Avenue, Acklam, Justin Heward, 24, of Harrow Road, Linthorpe, and Cain Conroy, 37, of Slaley Close, New Marske.

The four accused in the other group are Paul Kime, 26, of Daleville Close, Beechwood, Michael Kime, 28, of Lambton Road, Grove Hill, Vicki Kilpatrick, 25, of Woodville Avenue, Beechwood and Anthony Conway, 24, of Barberry, Coulby Newham.