Jury out in boyfriend murder plot

Mr Breaks said he confessed to the murder to protect his sister

A jury has started its deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murdering his sister's boyfriend.

Daniel Breaks beat Simon Sutton before forcing his sister's children to kick him as he lay dying, Liverpool Crown Court has been told.

Mr Breaks, 48, from Halville Road, Allerton, Liverpool, claims two unnamed men attacked and killed the 40-year-old using a pool cue.

He denies murder, kidnap, conspiracy to blackmail and false imprisonment.

Blackmail plot

During the trial, the jury was told that Mr Breaks had killed the victim because he suspected him of reporting a blackmail plot he was allegedly involved in.

He is then alleged to have dumped Mr Sutton's body in an alley before using a knife to force an elderly couple to drive him to London.

During the trial he told the jury he was present when Mr Sutton was killed but could not name the men who carried out the attack.

Mr Breaks, who initially confessed to the killing, told the court he could not name the men because they had threatened to kill his sister.

Mr Breaks is in the dock with Jason Sutton, 28, the dead man's brother. The pair are accused of hatching a plot to blackmail HSBC in Grey Street, Newcastle of £300,000.

Mr Sutton, of Rockville Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, denies conspiracy to blackmail.

The body of the victim was found wrapped in bin bags in Argyle Street South in Birkenhead, Merseyside, in April. He had been beaten to death.