By James Simons
The trial of a young man accused of the murder of two 16-year-old boys and attempting to kill a third person in Brentwood last October has kicked off at Basildon Crown Court.
Frankie Watson, 20, of Baker Street, Orsett, stands accused of the murder of Romford teenagers Charlie Preston and Frank Gater.
Watson has also been charged with the injury of, and intent to kill a third victim, who cannot be named. He was arrested by police at Basildon Hospital, whilst being treated for injuries he sustained during a fight with the victims.
Watson had a folder knife with him, Preston a Machete, and Gater a knuckleduster, Lisa Wilding QC, prosecuting, told Basildon Crown Court.
Wilding told the court that Watson was with a group of friends when they “encountered” another group of youths on the High Street in Brentwood, Essex.
She said Watson “didn’t know that anyone in [Preston and Gater’s] group had a weapon on them” but he “did, however, know as he stood in that car park, that he had a knife on him and would use it against those he stood and waited for”.
“The two groups exchanged words and looks,” she said.
Ms Wilding said that shortly before 9pm, a 15-year-old boy was mugged for his jacket by one of the group which Gater and Preston belonged to.
Opening the case for the prosecution Lisa Wilding QC said: “What we are concerned with are events that took place in the early hours of the morning of October 24, 2021. Frankie Watson was in Brentwood town centre with a group of friends, and whilst on the high street he and his friends encountered another group of youths and the two groups exchanged words and looks.
“Charlie Preston and Frank Gater were in that other group along with friends of theirs. As a result of the confrontation on the high street, Preston and Gater’s group chased the defendant’s group.”
The court heard that the chasing group was armed . Charlie Preston had a machete, Frank Gater had a knuckle duster, while defendant Watson had a flick knife, which could be opened with a button or a flick of the wrist.
The jury was then told that two groups left the high street and ended up in an open car park. Watson and his friends were ahead by some way but while his friends ran off, he dropped back in the car park and awaited his pursuers, who arrived and were seen running through the car park.
Ms Wilding continued: “There followed an explosion of violence. And Frankie Watson used the knife he had on him to stab three of his pursuing group a total of 12 times.
“Two young men died as a result of their wounds. The third received serious injuries from a stab wound to his chest. Watson received some cuts to his face and finger. And the prosecution alleges that in that short but overwhelming display of violence, Watson murdered the two men who died.”