A defendant in the Ryan Kirkpatrick murder trial “put on a kit” to show support with “Team Murder” when he dressed in a disguise alongside his co-accused, the lead prosecutor said.

On day six of the trial at Carlisle Crown Court, the prosecution and defence summarised the case after the judge outlined key issues for the jury to consider.

Both Kane Hull and Liam Porter deny murder and manslaughter on September 18, 2021, at Carlyle’s Court, in Carlisle city centre.

In his summary, lead prosecutor Tim Evans, said: "Knives kill. You turn on the news whether it's the teenage girl in Liverpool, whether it's the gang members in London, everybody knows knives kill.

"Kane Hull armed himself with a knife, with that intention to kill or cause serious harm.

“When he put on a mask, a different top, of course, he didn't put socks on. When he came back, these disguises with that dangerous weapon to teach Ryan Kirkpatrick a lesson that he hadn't got to teach him earlier in incident one.

"Incident one was an attempted glassing. It wasn't really a fight. Ryan Kirkpatrick didn't really win. It's a bit of a win not to end up glassed.

“Incident two was not a fight. Ryan Kirkpatrick had no chance to fight back, as Kane Hull ran in first, followed by Liam Porter, and he was stabbed.

“Liam Porter putting his hands up like that, his role of crowd control, doing what he failed to do in incident two.”

Mr Evans said that neither of the men seemed “remotely bothered” that they were doing this.

“Liam Porter agreed to come along as back-up, as support. The crown say that's the reason why Liam Porter came back for that back-up to be called on, if needed.

“That's what Kane Hull does. He commits offences of violence with weapons. He likes to give himself that edge.”

Mr Evans said Hull’s previous convictions showed a propensity to behave in the same way.

“Kane Hull is someone who holds a grudge. That comment, ‘that b*****d who got me locked up’.

“When they both came back and put on those disguises, they both knew that this was even more serious than a glassing.”

Later in his summary, Mr Evans likened Porter putting on his disguise to supporting a football team, saying Porter "put his kit on to show support with a team”.

"It was Team Murder he was putting a kit on to support.

"It was so quick, so brutal, he didn't need to get involved. There was no necessity to get involved in crowd control." 

Mr Evans posed a number of questions that would have been put to the defendants if they had chosen to testify.  

He said: "20 minutes after incident two, why aren't they using their phones as they had been all day?"

"Why did you hide in Cumbria and then flee to Belfast? Why flee the country?

"There are no answers to these questions because there's not a shred of evidence they are prepared to come and give in front of you.

"They know this is a challenge they can't meet. They know they are Team Murder.

"They knew better than anyone else they couldn't beat this charge of murder.

"That is why you should find them guilty of the murder of Ryan Kirkpatrick."

Toby Hedworth KC, for Hull, referred back to Mr Evans' comments about the the call history.

He said: "This is a murder trial not a gaming show. It's not looking for interesting quirks about phone use.

"Let's be blunt about this. It's a dreadful thing that Ryan Kirkpatrick lost his life on September 18 last year.

"A dreadful thing that he died in the way that he did. A dreadful thing that he died at all."

But he said that what the prosecution is afraid of is 'the detail - the forensic analysis of what the evidence is'.

Referring to the testimony of Chloe Bowman, he said: "Don't worry about detail when you can call on a witness who was completely drunk.

"What she can actually tell you is, I accept I can't identify this man but who else could it be?

"The prosecution say, look at the sort of man Kane Hull is," he went on.

"Before emergency services arrived at Carlyle's Court, those present had already decided who had done this.

"Is he really going to go away and come back to someone who has already got him locked up? Come back and walk into the jaws of a lion?

"When Kane Hull had the opportunity to assault Ryan Kirkpatrick in incident one he chose not to," Mr Hedworth went on.

On the decision not to offer evidence for the defence, he said: "What if he had got into the witness box? Would my learned friend have praised him for doing so?

"As soon as he says he hasn't done it, he is called a liar. He is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

"Kane Hull is someone who has a life that causes him to come to the attention of police. He understands if he comes under suspicion of a criminal offence, it has consequences for him and his credibility.

"What this case comes down to is that the knife man was a white man," Mr Hedworth said.

"That the man wasn't wearing socks. Lots of people wear trainers without socks. And finally the hairline is allegedly similar.

"We are not playing games here, as I have said.

"Is the evidence here enough to allow you to be sure? We submit it's not," Mr Hedworth said.

"The only appropriate verdict you can return is not guilty."

Liam Walker KC, for Liam Porter, opened his summary.

Mr Walker said: "The prosecution recall evidence from seven key witnesses who were present when a man on his own ran into Carlyle's Court and murdered Ryan Kirkpatrick.

"Ryan Kirkpatrick was attacked by one person, not two. There's no dispute about that.

"By a man who was out of control. By a man who must be terrifying.

"The killer was not assisted or encouraged by anyone.

"This was a vicious, callous and cowardly crime," Mr Walker went on. "It must have been terrifying. He must be terrifying.

"The key issue in this case for Liam Porter is assistance and encouragement. I will address you on that tomorrow."

The trial continues.

READ MORE: LIVE: Day 6 Ryan Kirkpatrick murder trial at Carlisle Crown Court