Murder trial told that a 26-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest following a chemical attack

Andy Foster, 26, had a corrosive liquid thrown in his face on August 20 last year, which stopped him from breathing, caused a heart attack and killed him, it is claimed. 

Prosecutors say the deadly confrontation was the fourth in a series of chemical attacks in Gateshead and South Tyneside, over a period of 11 days, during which one woman lost an eye.

Youssef Wynne, Josh Hawthorn, Kenneth Fawcett and John Wandless all deny murder and charges in connection to the other attacks and are being tried by a jury. 

Prosecutor Mark McKone KC said the first attack happened at an address in South Shields, on August 9 last year when Fawcett targeted a man in his home around midnight. 

Mr McKone said the victim was squirted with ammonia or similar liquid which caused "horrendous burning and stinging" to his eyes and face and required extensive treatment at hospital, where he was taken by ambulance.

A second man came under similar attack a property in Hebburn on August 12 and needed hospital treatment. 

On August 16 a woman in Jarrow was sprayed in the eye during an attack. She felt her lungs burning, could not breathe and collapsed. 

Mr McKone told the court: "After a number of operations, her left eye had to be removed."

The court heard the deadly attack on Mr Foster happened at just after 11pm on August 20. 

Mr McKone said: "The ammonia caused Andrew Foster to have breathing difficulties and cardiac arrest which led to brain damage as oxygen could not get to his brain. 

"He died in hospital the following day."

The court heard Mr Foster's partner Katie Harrison was in the house at the time he was attacked. 

Mr McKone said: "She did not see the attack but she heard someone come to the door and then heard her partner screaming. 

"Katie said her partner was holding his face and she heard him shouting 'it's ammonia, I can't breathe'. 

"She called an ambulance and performed CPR on Andrew."

She later realised a box was missing from the kitchen, which contained a kit for making sweets which were then sprayed with cannabis oil. 

The court heard not all of those who came under attack were necessarily the intended targets. 

Mr McKone told jurors all of the violence was connected to drugs. 

Prosecutors claim Wynne was a drug dealer and the three other men worked under him.

Mr McKone said Wynne and Hawthorn were not present at any of the four attacks but told jurors: "The prosecution do say Mr Wynne was involved in organising all the attacks and Mr Hawthorne was also involved in organising the fourth and fatal attack and the attacks were carried out, we submit, for the benefit of Wynne and Hawthorne."

Mr McKone said Fawcett was employed as Wynne's "enforcer" and he was present at all four attacks. 

Prosecutors say Wandless was recruited later by Fawcett and was present at the final three attacks. 

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Wynne is also accused of attacking Mr Foster in September last year, which was also a dispute over drugs. 

Wynne, 39, of Wuppertal Court, Jarrow, Hawthorn, 23, of Ashfield, Jarrow, Fawcett, 33, of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields and Wandless, 32, of no fixed abode, all deny murder of Mr Foster and robbery of cannabis edibles from his home. 

Wynne also denies assault, two charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and one of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. 

Fawcett also denies two charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and one of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. 

Wandless also denies one charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and one of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. 

The trial continues.