A JURY was today considering the fate of five teenagers accused of a vicious killing.
Birkby taxi driver Mohammad Parvaiz was battered to death after being lured to a false fare at Field Head in Golcar last July 22.
Graeme Slavin, 18, Christopher Murphy, 18, two 17-year-olds and a youth of 16 deny murdering the father-of-three.
A sixth defendant, 19-year-old Michael Hand was not in Leeds Crown Court after changing his plea to guilty earlier in the trial.
Judge Dame Heather Steel sent jurors out to consider their verdict at 3:13pm yesterday.
They must also decide whether the 16-year-old is guilty of violent disorder - to which all the other accused have pleaded guilty.
The jurors were sent out after Dame Steel completed her three-day summing up of the two-month trial.
Speaking just before she sent the jury out, Dame Steel said: "You're now going to be asked to go out to consider your verdict . You're not under any time pressure, you must take as long or as short as you wish."
And Dame Steel explained that the jurors should seek unanimity.
She said: "The verdicts that you reach must be ones on which you are all agreed. The court can not accept majority verdicts unless a considerable amount of time has passed."
Dame Steel also warned jurors: "Your verdicts must be based only on the evidence you hear in this court so don't seek any further evidence about this case and don't discuss this case outside the jury room."
At 4:15pm the jury returned to ask for the height of each defendant, including Hand. But Dame Steel refused to give this information, as it had not come out during evidence.
She then sent the jury home for the day. They re-started their discussions at 10:30am today .
The case continues.
The defendants:
MICHAEL HAND
Murder plea: Not guilty, changed to guilty on December 4.
The oldest defendant at 19, Hand was only in court for two weeks before changing his murder plea to guilty.
He was arrested along with Graeme Slavin at the latter's flat less than two hours after the killing.
He will be sentenced when the case against the other defendants ends.
CHRISTOPHER MURPHY
Murder plea: Not guilty
The 18-year-old was accused by Adrian Waterman QC for the prosecution of being one of the three or four youths who took part in the actual physical attack on Mr Parvaiz.
The barrister also claimed Murphy had orchestrated the assault.
But Murphy said he didn't attack Mr Parvaiz, though he did admit throwing stones at his Lockwoods Taxis people carrier.
GRAEME SLAVIN
Murder plea: Not guilty
Slavin admitted punching Mr Parvaiz once but said he then stood back while others stamped and kicked him.
The 18-year-old explained a bloodstain on his shoe by saying he had placed his foot under Mr Parvaiz's shoulder and lifted him slightly to check on his condition.
His own defence barrister Rodney Jameson QC told jurors this action had been "cowardly".
17-YEAR-OLD No. 1
Murder plea: Not guilty
The teen had a flat where the accused liked to meet up to play computer games, drink and smoke cannabis.
He told Leeds Crown Court he threw a stone at Mr Parvaiz's taxi before punching him once and fleeing.
But he denied stamping or kicking the victim, or dragging him from his people carrier taxi.
Police found Mr Parvaiz's blood on the teen's shoes and trousers.
17-YEAR_OLD No. 2
Murder plea: Not guilty
According to his barrister David Nathan QC, the youth was teased by other accused because he was well-off and only took part in the attack so he could fit in.
He admitted throwing a stone at Mr Parvaiz's taxi but denied playing any part in the physical attack on him.
No blood was found on his clothes when he was arrested shortly after the murder.
THE 16-YEAR-OLD
Murder plea: Not guilty
The youngest defendant was also the last to be arrested, when he was detained at a Huddersfield bus stop four days after the brutal killing.
The prosceution alleged he acted as lookout for the older youths - something he denies.
The teen claimed to have been urinating in an alleyway off Field Head when Mr Parvaiz's taxi arrived. As soon as he heard breaking glass, the teen told the court, he ran home.
