Ipswich murder trial: Judge sums up trial for jury

Alfie Hammett, 19, and Joshua Howell, 18, have both been charged with the murder of Raymond James Quigley on January 17 last year in Westgate Street in Ipswich town centre, as well as possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Hammett, of Larkhill Rise, Rushmere St Andrew, and Howell, of Wellington Street, Ipswich, both deny the charges and are on trial.

The trial has been going for more than a month and Ipswich Crown Court has heard Mr Quigley suffered four stab wounds to the torso and was killed due to a “deep rooted gang rivalry”.

Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

The court has heard that Hammett is part of the Norwich Third Side gang, Howell part of the Ipswich IP3 gang and Mr Quigley was part of the Norwich Only the Money gang, or OTM.

However Howell has said he is not affiliated with IP3, also known as the Nacton gang.  

The prosecution has argued the pair planned the attack and met in Suffolk New College and later ambushed Mr Quigley with his friends, with Howell using his machete to prevent the friends from helping Mr Quigley as he was stabbed to death by Hammett.

Howell’s defence is that he met with the man who stabbed Mr Quigley, who police have called Male 1 who the prosecution say is Hammett, to sell him cannabis and took a machete in case Male 1 attacked him.

Mr Quigley died after being attacked last January (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

The court heard Male 1 then asked Howell where the German Doner Kebab shop was in the town centre and Howell then walked towards the food shop with him.

Male 1 then unexpectedly attacked Mr Quigley when they encountered him on Westgate Street and Howell drew his machete out of fear in the commotion according to the defence.  

Hammett has not given evidence, but his defence disputes the claim that he is Male 1.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson summarised his case on Thursday.