Neither of the two convicted murderers accused of killing a Huddersfield child-killer in his cell at a Midlands jail has given evidence in their trial.

Gary Smith, 48, and Lee Newell, 44, have both pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to Subhan Anwar ’s murder in HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire on February 14.

All three men were serving life sentences for murder.

The jury has heard that after receiving a call from Anwar’s cell on Delta Wing, prison officers found Smith and Newell inside. When they gained access to the cell they found 24-year-old Anwar’s body face-down on his bed, his feet bound with Sellotape and tracksuit bottoms wrapped tightly round his neck.

The tracksuit bottoms, which had been used to strangle him, were so tight round his neck that they had to be cut off by a paramedic and the Sellotape was cut from his feet.

Prosecutor Peter Grieve-Smith had told the jury Smith and Newell were likely to point the finger at each-other for the killing.

But the prosecution allege they were in it together.

Mr Grieves-Smith said: “The prosecution say that to carry out the brutal attack there had to be force of numbers.”

It was anticipated that Newell would give evidence claiming that Smith alone was responsible for killing Anwar. But at the end of the prosecution case on the sixth day of the trial his barrister Joe Stone QC asked for time to speak to him, before confirming Newell would not be giving evidence.

And Jonas Hankin, for Smith, said he would not be going into the witness box either.

The trial has heard that DNA samples matching both men were found on Anwar and his clothing.         

Another prisoner on the segregation wing, where Smith and Newell were put into separate cells following the incident, made notes of a conversation which Mr Grieves-Smith suggested showed Newell had been involved in the killing.

Convicted rapist Anthony Snow, who is also serving a life sentence, read out notes he said he had taken of Newell being asked by another lifer whether Anwar had resisted.

Snow said Newell answered: “No.  The way I had him he couldn’t. I went in the cell and told him ‘I’m taking you hostage, but don’t worry I’m just going to tie you up but I ain’t going to hurt you.’”

Anwar was jailed for the brutal torture and murder of two-year-old Sanam Navsarka at the family home in Deighton.

The trial continues.