Jury retires in fight death case

A jury considering its verdict on three men accused of murdering a 20-year-old man in a "military-style" attack has been sent home for the night.

Mark Cook, 39, Lee Ward, 30, and Rhys Lewis, 29, deny murdering construction worker Ryan Edwards from Croeserw, near Maesteg, in Bridgend county.

He was left unconscious at Bridgend railway station car park in July 2007 and died two days later in hospital.

Cardiff Crown Court has heard the three men claim they acted in self-defence.

Mr Cook had an altercation with one of Mr Edwards's friends outside a club in Bridgend, the jury heard.

Mr Cook, a part-time bouncer, then met up with Mr Lewis, an ex-Royal Marine, and Mr Ward before heading to Bridgend railway station.

Prosecutor John Rees said: "They marched to the station on a mission to teach the boys a lesson."

'Gentle giant'

He told the jury the three men launched a "cold, calculated, military-style attack".

Mr Rees said the attack "was men against boys" and the three men acted like "bullies and cowards".

The court heard Mr Edwards and two of his friends - Ashley Evans and Mark Kilnan - were left unconscious at the railway station car park.

Mr Edwards, described as a "gentle giant" by loved ones, died from brain injuries two days later in the Princess of Wales Hospital.

Mr Rees said: "Mr Edwards sustained fatal injuries from which he did not recover."

Mr Cook, Mr Ward and Mr Lewis, all from the Bridgend area, all deny murder, claiming they acted in self-defence.

They also deny causing grievous bodily harm to two other men and Mr Cook denies an assault on a third man.