Bully group 'caused girl's death'

Aimee Wellock died after running for the safety of her home

Four teenagers who had been drinking caused the death of a 15-year-old girl when they began bullying the youngster and her friends, a court has been told.

Aimee Wellock collapsed near her home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on 7 June after the alleged attack.

Claire Carey, who was 18 at the time, of Allerton Grange Drive, Bradford, a boy and girl, both aged 15 and a 17-year-old girl all deny manslaughter.

Aimee had an undiagnosed heart condition, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Popular beauty spot

Ms Carey, the boy and 17-year-old girl also deny affray, but the 15-year-old girl pleaded guilty to affray in court on Monday.

Simon Myerson, prosecuting, told the court the defendants had been drinking at the popular Chellow Dene beauty spot in the Allerton area of Bradford for around five hours.

If this attack caused Aimee's death then these defendants are guilty of manslaughter Prosecutor Simon Myerson QC

Ms Carey had bought 40 bottles of strong lager from a shop.

The group came across Aimee Wellock and her friends and demanded cigarettes from them, but the youngsters did not have any.

The bullying and physical attacks on the group were stopped when two youth on motorbikes intervened telling the youngsters to run for home.

As Aimee ran her heart condition, dysrhythmia, caused her heart to beat irregularly leading to her collapsing and dying of heart failure around 25 yards from the safety of her home, the jury heard.

Mr Myerson told the court that the defence's argument that Aimee's condition was "an accident waiting to happen" was not accepted by the prosecution.

"If it was this attack that caused Aimee's heart to beat irregularly, it doesn't matter whether it could have happened a minute before or a minute after, it's simply irrelevant."

"If this attack caused Aimee's death then these defendants are guilty of manslaughter."

The case continues.