Pair accused of murdering traveller, 20, with plasterer's whisk in brawl at an M25 service station 'were his COUSINS'

  • Simon Baker, 22, and Mikey Coyle, 21, accused of killing Quhey Saunders, 20
  • The co-defendants grabbed building tools from their van at Cobham services
  • One of the two alleged attackers was heard shouting, 'I'm the man' at services
  • Post mortem found Mr Saunders died from wound which cut 10cm into his brain 

By Charlie Moore For Mailonline

Published: 21:54 GMT, 16 November 2017 | Updated: 23:26 GMT, 16 November 2017

A traveller who was battered to death with a plasterer's whisk at an M25 service station was a cousin of the men who killed him, a court heard today.

Quhey Saunders, 20, pulled into Cobham Services to buy drinks with friends after attending an all weekend wedding party in Wales.

Labourers Simon Baker, 22, and Mikey Coyle, 21, were already there and allegedly murdered Mr Saunders after a brawl around the pumps and in the kiosk area.

Traveller Quhey Saunders (pictured) was battered to death with a plasterer's whisk and a shovel during a brawl with two other travellers at an M25 service station, a court heard today

Traveller Quhey Saunders (pictured) was battered to death with a plasterer's whisk and a shovel during a brawl with two other travellers at an M25 service station, a court heard today

Mr Saunders (pictured) died three days later and a post mortem found he died from a head injury caused by a wound which entered the left side of his head and through a thick part of his skull, and 10cm through both sides of the brain

Mr Saunders (pictured) died three days later and a post mortem found he died from a head injury caused by a wound which entered the left side of his head and through a thick part of his skull, and 10cm through both sides of the brain

Witness Paddy Connor had been to the wedding with the victim, who was his nephew, and they were returning home in a Ford Focus on the Monday morning on June 26.

Also in the car was Mr Collins' wife Lizzie and their friend Marian Barbu.

Mr Connor said he had been drinking in the car and wanted to stop at the services to buy more beer.

He said he spotted Baker and Coyle's van with ladders on top and then noticed the two men who he had not seen for years in the shop.

'They are related to Quhey by my father's side. They are second cousins he explained.

'I walked up to them. I asked if everything was okay and they said yes. I carried on looking at the beers.'

Mr Connor said an argument then started between the victim and the two men.

Mr Saunders (centre) was travelling home with his friend Marian Barbu and his uncle and aunt Patrick and Lizzy Connor a day after a family wedding in Wales when they made the 'fateful and tragic' decision to pull over, jurors heard
Quhey Saunders

Mr Saunders (left and right) was travelling home with his friend Marian Barbu and his uncle and aunt Patrick and Lizzy Connor a day after a family wedding in Wales when they made the 'fateful and tragic' decision to pull over, jurors heard

The 'horrific attack' took place at Cobham Services in Surrey on June 26

The 'horrific attack' took place at Cobham Services in Surrey on June 26

Quhey Saunders of Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, was left unconscious after a fight broke out between two groups of people
Larosa posted a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook

Ms Smith posted a heartbreaking tribute to him on Facebook after he was pronounced dead

Police and a member of the public battled to save him but sadly he died on Wednesday
Police are seen tending to the 20-year-old at the Cobham Service station

Police and a member of the public battled to save him but sadly he died

Asked what had caused it he said: 'I haven't the foggiest clue.'

'I turned round and I heard my wife shouting: 'Call the police.'

'It looked like they were having a few words.' Mr Saunders ripped his top off as the confrontation with the two men continued.

'There was a fight. I tried to stop it,' Mr Connor said.

'I said to them: 'You're cousins, you're related.' He said he tried to restrain Coyle but was kicked in the head and left dizzy.

He said there was then a 'punch up' by the petrol pumps involving the three men.

'They had a bit of a brawl. There wasn't a lot in it,' he said.

Mr Connor said he then saw Baker and Coyle grab a shovel and the plasterer's whisk from their van.

He shouted: 'Boys, I know your family - please stop it.'

But during another confrontation in the shop, Baker hit Mr Saunders over the head with the whisk and killed him, it is claimed.

CCTV footage showed the initial stages of the brawl and the two men running back to the van, but the moment Mr Saunders died is not caught on camera.

Mr Connor said when he saw Mr Saunders lying on the floor of the shop he thought he was just knocked out.

'I went running into the shop. I said: 'You dirty bastards, what did you do that for.'

'Quhey was out cold. He was lying face down.

'I was quite rude. I said: 'You dirty tramps, you bastards.'

Prosecutors claim the pair were 'spoiling' for a fight when they drove to the service station and exchanged 'heated words' with Mr Saunders.

Baker, of Ivy Hatch Residential Site, Green Lane, Outwood, Redhill, Surrey, and Coyle, of 53 Howsman Barnes, Kingston, both deny murder.

They claim Mr Saunders was the aggressor and he was killed when they acted in self-defence.

The trial continues.          

In the tribute, Mr Saunders' girlfriend wrote: 'He wasn't just my boyfriend he was my best friend, my full life'

In the tribute, Mr Saunders' girlfriend wrote: 'He wasn't just my boyfriend he was my best friend, my full life'

Hours before his death was announced, his friends and family posted supportive messages on Facebook hoping he would pull through 

Hours before his death was announced, his friends and family posted supportive messages on Facebook hoping he would pull through 

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