Murdered boy 'cried out for help'

Michael McIlveen died after being attacked by a gang in May 2006

A murdered schoolboy begged a friend for help moments before he was attacked by a gang, a court has been told.

Michael McIlveen, 15, died after being attacked in a car park following a chase through an alleyway in Ballymena.

Five people deny the 2006 murder. A 20-year-old has pleaded guilty to the murder and is awaiting sentence.

Sean Norris, who was at house party behind the alley, told Antrim Crown Court the youth called to him: "I need your help, these boys are chasing me."

Mr Norris said he saw Jeff Colin Lewis, 19, of Rossdale, Ballymena enter the alleyway and fight with the boy then invite him to a nearby car park.

The witness said moments later he saw "a crowd" running down the alleyway in the opposite direction and "a big boy in a white jumper" before he escaped into a garden.

During cross examination by defence counsel for Christopher Francis Kerr, 22, of Carnduff Drive in Ballymena, Mr Norris denied seeing another witness, Christopher Graham, with a knife.

He also denied having any knowledge of a Samauri sword being kept in a hut in Mr Graham's back garden.

It was also put to him that he had been "taken up" by the police in Easter 2006 for a disturbance in the car park close to where Mr McIlveen was attacked.

Mr Norris told the court that he had been questioned by police for having a golf club, which he said he was using to "hit stones across the car park" and confirmed that three others had also been questioned, one of whom had a "sling shot".

Mr Norris was not charged with an offence.

The lawyer asked him if he was "in conflict with other young people at the bottom end of the town" which he denied.

The court also heard evidence from another witness, Terrence Graham, 18, who was also at the party.

He told the jury that he remained inside the house and did not see the assault but heard someone shouting sectarian abuse.

Mr Graham said he heard the gate of the garden being "smashed through" and saw "a lot of people run past with hoods".

The hearing continues.