Tiego Beckles, 21, and Richard Beckles, 19, voluntarily surrendered to police at Wolverhampton police station on January 7, 2026, nearly two weeks after the alleged murder of 30-year-old Trey Johnson, a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court has heard. The father-of-two was fatally stabbed in the chest in the early hours of Christmas Day 2025 in Burcot Avenue, East Park, Wolverhampton, and was pronounced dead at the scene after collapsing before paramedics arrived.
Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC, opening the case on Wednesday, August 19, told jurors that neither defendant remained at the scene following the alleged attack. Both brothers later presented themselves at the police station with a solicitor, and both answered no comment during their subsequent police interviews, Mr Heywood added.
Two Violent Episodes on Christmas Morning
The prosecution alleges that the brothers were involved in two violent episodes on Christmas morning. The first occurred outside De Fusion club on Exchange Street, where Tiego Beckles is said to have punched Mr Johnson, fracturing his eye socket. Richard Beckles is then alleged to have joined the assault, with the brothers chasing Mr Johnson into the road, forcing him to the ground, and kicking and stamping on his head.
Mr Heywood described the initial confrontation: "Almost at once, Richard stepped in to keep his brother back but, within a very short period of time, in which we say that both had ample opportunity to simply walk away, Richard too begins assaulting Mr Johnson." The prosecutor said Tiego initially broke away from the brawl but soon rejoined, and the violence flared up again with Richard allegedly launching another attack, punching and kneeing Mr Johnson in the head.
The brothers left the scene in a grey Peugeot SUV at 3.05am, with Mr Johnson leaving in his Audi a few minutes later, all driving the same route to Burcot Avenue. There, the second violent episode unfolded near the brothers' family home, less than 30 minutes after the first incident.
Fatal Stabbing Near Family Home
According to the prosecution, Richard Beckles exited the passenger seat of the Peugeot "almost as soon as it came to a stop" and ran towards Mr Johnson. Tiego Beckles left the driver's seat, entered the family home he shared with his mother and younger brother, and emerged "within minutes" carrying a baseball bat. Mr Heywood said Richard then stabbed Mr Johnson to the right side of his chest.
Tiego returned to the home alone, running inside and leaving before paramedics—called by his mother—arrived. Richard and Mr Johnson walked back into Burcot Avenue from nearby Old Heath Road, with no further violence but some gestures exchanged between them. Mr Johnson, visibly struggling to walk, sat on a wall before collapsing. Richard allegedly left the scene in a Seat car parked on the driveway of the family home, which was insured in his brother's name.
Jurors heard that Richard took off his T-shirt and handed it to Mr Johnson to "stem the obvious bleeding," a move the prosecution says was due to his "dawning realisation" of what he had done.
Defence Cases Outlined
Tiego Beckles, now of Broadgate Way, Wolverhampton, and Richard Beckles, now of Stafford Street, Willenhall, both deny murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Johnson on December 25, 2025. Richard also denies having an offensive weapon, a knife, on the same day. Tiego has pleaded guilty to one count of having an offensive weapon—a baseball bat—ahead of the trial.
Mr Heywood outlined the anticipated defence cases. Tiego is expected to accept being involved in the incident outside De Fusion but will say he did not cause Mr Johnson really serious harm and did not intend such harm to be committed by others. His case is likely to be that he was not aware Richard had a knife and was not a party to anything his brother did. Tiego is expected to argue he did not intend to kill or cause Mr Johnson really serious harm.
Richard's case is expected to be that he sought to protect his brother outside De Fusion. Mr Heywood told jurors Richard is anticipated to argue his later actions were essentially in self-defence, that he tried to chase and scare Mr Johnson off, and that he did not intend to catch or stab him. The stabbing is said to have been accidental, and once he realised what had happened, he tried to assist.
Mr Heywood concluded: "The prosecution say that the evidence in respect of each defendant proves otherwise." The trial continues.
