THREE people accused of attempted murder celebrated after leaving a father-of-three “for dead”, a jury has heard.

Paul Michael Rishworth and Scott and Keeley Hurst had injured Matthew Carney so badly by stabbing, kicking, stamping and punching him that doctors feared for weeks afterwards he could die, Paul Mitchell, prosecuting, alleged.

York Press:

He was only found “by a fluke” shortly after the attack on August 12 last year as he lay unconscious in a layby on an isolated path in Tang Hall, the barrister claimed.

“Those who attacked him had 'left him for dead'. They made no attempt that he would be discovered, that he would be treated. They went off and effectively spent the evening, the Crown says, by celebrating what they had done,” Mr Mitchell alleged.

The barrister was opening the prosecution against Rishworth, 31, of no fixed address, Scott Hurst, 29 and his partner Keeley Hurst, 23, of James Street Caravan Site, York, who all deny attempted murder. Together with Rishworth’s cousin Kieran Kevin Harris, 22, of Bell Farm Avenue, off Huntington Road, York, they deny conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Carney.

Shortly before the three alleged attackers and their alleged victim left the Castle Howard Ox in The Groves where they had been drinking, Scott Hurst photographed Rishworth in its toilets showing off his muscles, Mr Mitchell told Leeds Crown Court.

This, he alleged, was Rishworth “girding his loins” and getting ready to carry out the plan arranged by the conspirators.

Keeley Hurst drove the others away from the pub towards Mr Carney’s home, who may have thought they were giving him a lift home.

Mr Mitchell claimed instead they took him down the path which led to some allotments and a primary school’s playing fields and stopped in a layby not overlooked by any buildings.

Mr Carney was found in the same layby about 15 or 20 minutes later at 11pm by a couple visiting friends.

“By a fluke that probably saved Mr Carney’s life, the friends they were going to visit that late at night happened to live in one of those two houses accessed by the path.” The couple called the emergency services and Mr Carney was taken straight to Leeds General Infirmary, where he was kept in intensive care until September 2.

Meanwhile, alleged the barrister, Rishworth and the Hursts had gone back to the Castle Howard Ox, where they spoke to Harris, who had been in the pub with them earlier, and then to a 24-hour ASDA supermarket.

“They were in high spirits. They got a multipack of beer and told a member of staff they were going to a party.

“Rishworth engaged himself messing around in a wheelchair he had found in the shop. About half an hour after leaving Mr Carney for dead, he was messing around in a wheelchair in an ASDA supermarket.“

Rishworth has admitted an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Carney, a charge denied by both Hursts.

The trial continues.