A FORMER amphetamines addict has told how a drug dealer bragged about taking part in the killing of teenager Sajjad Mahmood.

Lee Shewan also told how he was warned to keep his mouth shut by the killers, when he gave evidence at the Preston Crown Court trial.

Wayne Kelly, 23, of Pearl Street, and Karl Barton 22, of Manor Gardens, both of Accrington, have denied charges of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.

A third man, James Butler, 21, of Persia Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the trial got under way.

All three men have admitted dealing in amphetamines and cannabis.

Mr Shewan, a friend of Sajjad Mahmood, was one of the last people to see the supermarket worker alive.

He claimed he was told Sajjad was sprayed with CS gas and then beaten over the head with a heavy duty torch and cups. The teenager was then thrown into a lodge next to Accrington's Asda superstore.

Mr Shewan told the court he and Sajjad arrived at a house in Princess Street together.

The terrace house was being used as a base for dealing by the three men and both men wanted to buy drugs.

He said Sajjad had fallen out with James Butler after he and two friends smashed up the house in Princess Street several weeks earlier.

Mr Shewan said: "When we got there Karl Barton and Wayne Kelly were there. Karl went into the kitchen and made a call on his mobile phone. He came out and said 'sorted.' They said Sajjad couldn't leave because there were drug squad cars around and he would have to wait. About five or ten minutes later James Butler arrived." Mr Shewan said there was a terrible atmosphere in the house and he was told to leave because Sajjad was going to get a "slapping."

Later that same evening, Mr Shewan said, he saw Wayne Kelly, who invited him into the house in Princess Street for a smoke of cannabis.

He said: "I asked Wayne what had happened to Sajjad and I asked if they had given him a slap.

"Wayne said they had CS gassed him then hit him over the head with with a torch, then smashed cups on his head and kicked him.

"When I asked what happened to him Wayne said 'Let's just say he got wet'. He said they had thrown him into the lake next to Asda."

Mr Shewan claimed he was visited at his home several weeks by Karl Barton and James Butler.

He said: "James was saying there were loads of rumours going around about Sajjad and he said that he heard they were coming from me. He said that whoever was spreading rumours was going to get into trouble."

James Butler gave evidence for the prosecution and told how he ran the drugs business from Princess Street.

He also revealed he paid Kelly and Barton around £250 a week to sell cannabis and amphetamines for him.

Butler went on to explain he fell out with Sajjad after the teenager and two friends smashed up the house during a drunken prank.

He said: "The house had been trashed. The TV and settee had been thrown through a downstairs window.

"I didn't want to get the police involved. I was selling drugs in the house. I didn't want them to come round."

Proceeding

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