FOUR people accused of murdering a Polish man in in January all handed clothing and phones over to others following an incident in a Newport street, a court has heard.

Richard Wallis, 43, of Keene Street, Callum Banton, 18, of Fleetwood Close, and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jan Jedrzejewski in Keene Street.

Shaquille Crosdale, 18, of Fleetwood Close, has pleaded not guilty to the same offence and also to perverting the course of public justice.

A fifth defendant, Catherine Coslett, 64, of Valley View Road, Cwmtillery, is not accused of murder but perverting the course of public justice.

Opening the case of the prosecution, William Hughes QC played CCTV footage taken from cameras located on Cromwell Road, which shares a junction with Keene Street.

The footage showed the Cromwell Stores convenience store, known locally as the Red Shop, where an intoxicated Mr Jedrzejewski attempted to buy alcohol from on January 12 at around 10pm.

Mr Hughes said that the deceased had already had “five or six cans of Polish lager” at his sister’s house after leaving work at 3.30pm on January 12.

The barrister added that a group of young men began to “taunt” and “goad” Mr Jedrzejewski after he caused a scene in the store, firstly by falling asleep on the counter.

“Mr Jedrzejewski was urinating on a display of chocolate bars,” said Mr Hughes.

“This resulted in the shop owner wanting to get him out of the store due to his unsociable behaviour.”

The CCTV showed the four defendants in the vicinity of the shop as Mr Jedrzejewski stabilised himself on a lamppost, although the incident on Keene Street was not captured on camera.

Mr Hughes added that following the quartet’s arrest, their clothing was analysed by forensic scientists and a speck of blood belonging to the deceased was found on a sock belonging to Wallis.

Items of clothing including Nike tracksuits, Air Max trainers and jackets as well as iPhones were later handed over to the police, having been recovered from properties around Newport and in Cwmtillery.

Mr Hughes added that Coslett, the mother of Wallis, was arrested in relation to washing her son’s clothes as well as contacting witnesses in attempt to change their statements.

“She admitted to washing her son’s clothes while he was in the bath. She was only acting and helping as a mother does,” said Mr Hughes.

Mr Jedrzejewski died at the Royal Gwent Hospital after he was found unresponsive at around 11pm close to Cromwell Road on Thursday, January 12, dying the following day.

Proceeding.