A MECHANIC stabbed three businessmen in a revenge attack a day after he was convicted of assault following a long-running feud, a court heard.
Gavin Hogg, 34, is alleged to have killed David Burrows, 36, at a haulage yard next to his own workshop in Ravensthorpe after a bitter row over land, Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday.
He also stabbed Mr Burrows's father Darrell, 62, and uncle Clive Hoyland, 52, as they rushed to his aid at the family firm.
The triple stabbing in September last year followed years of territorial dispute by the neighbours at Low Mill Industrial Estate, the jury heard.
It came a day after Hogg was convicted of common assault and criminal damage following an earlier attack on company director Darrell.
Despite a history of threats and violence he was freed on bail by Dewsbury Magistrates' Court to await sentence.
Hogg denies murder, two counts of attempted murder and two alternative charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
All the alleged victims worked at family firm at M&B Haulage and Waste Paper next door to Hogg's car repair business GL Motors.
Prosecutor James Goss QC said Hogg armed himself with a kitchen knife before going to the haulage firm looking for revenge on September 14 last year.
"The defendant, we say, on that day embarked on a series of deliberate and intentional actions, culminating in stabbing three men with whom he had a grievance, killing one of them," he said.
Hogg drove into the haulage yard at 40mph and smashed into Darrell's parked
Mercedes, shunting it and another vehicle into a wall.
The court was told Hogg got out, pinned David against a car and delivered two fatal stab wounds to his lower back.
As he fell, David, from Ravensthorpe, tried to warn his relatives by shouting: "He's got a knife."
But his father and uncle rushed over to help and quickly became targets.
Darrell was stabbed in the chest close to the heart, and Mr Hoyland, from Altofts, in the stomach.
Mr Goss said that as Hogg ran away he dropped the knife and shouted to workers in the yard: "I told you I'd do it."
The court heard M&B Haulage was set up on the industrial estate 30 years ago by Darrell Burrows and it now employs more than 60 staff.
The feud between the companies began in 2001, and by 2004 had escalated so badly that Darrell was repeatedly forced to call the police.
Mr Goss told the jury that in May 2005, Hogg became angry about new building work at M&B.
Police were called in after he parked his JCB across their entrance before planning an "ugly and premeditated" assault on Darrell.
Magistrates found the mechanic guilty of common assault and criminal damage to a car on September 13 last year, but sentencing was adjourned.
"That conviction and surrounding events seem to be the catalyst for what happened the following day," Mr Goss added.
Hogg told police he took the knife only for protection and was hit on the back of the head as he struggled with David.
Hogg said the knife may have gone in by accident, but he had no memory of using it deliberately or stabbing the other two men.
The trial continues.
