Child's game decided boy's fate

Adam's body parts were found scattered around Loughborough

Two people played a game of "rock, paper, scissors" to decide who would kill 14-year-old Adam Morrell, a court has heard.

Adam was tortured for up to three hours by a gang of friends before he was killed and his body parts scattered around his home town of Loughborough last year.

Nathan Barnett, 27, has admitted killing the boy, but told the court he was helped by 19-year-old Daniel Biggs.

On Thursday he told a jury at Nottingham Crown Court that he played the children's game, 'rock, paper, scissors' with Mr Biggs to decide who would kill Adam.

The prosecution case rests on the evidence of people who, the prosecution say, are themselves liars Sir Ivan Lawrence QC

However Sir Ivan Lawrence QC, defending Mr Biggs, said this was a lie aimed at protecting a co-defendant, Matthew Welsh.

He said Mr Barnett had written a series of letters to Mr Welsh in prison, saying he wanted to see Mr Biggs suffer.

Sir Ivan asked jurors: "How far can you trust the word of a man who deliberately killed Adam with his bare hands?

"He hates Biggs. Barnett is infatuated with Welsh. "The only evidence that Biggs took part in a sustained beating for two to three hours is the evidence of the co-defendant.

"He admits that he did nothing to stop the beating of Adam and he just watched."

Sustained attack

He added: "The prosecution case against him on the murder rests on the evidence of the people who, the prosecution say, are themselves liars."

Mr Biggs, of Loughborough, denies murder and denies causing grievous bodily harm to Adam.

Mr Welsh and his girlfriend, Sarah Morris, 17, both admit taking part in a sustained attack on the boy and have admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, but not with intent.

The pair have also pleaded not guilty to murdering Adam.

Mr Barnett, of Loughborough, has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The trial continues.