Brothers Deny Attacking Their Gay Couple Pals During Boozy Night Out

Marc Palmer-Elder

Two brothers turned on their gay couple friends during a violent Saturday night out in London’s West End - hospitalising the victims who were both viciously punched in the face, court heard.

One victim was also repeatedly kicked and stamped on by the pair, with one brother mockingly offering gay sexual favours to make the injured man ‘feel better’ during the drive home, the jury were told.

Marc Palmer-Elder, 24, of Faraday Road, Slough and Shaun Palmer-Elder, 23, of Wren Wood, Welwyn Garden City both deny the allegations at Southwark Crown Court.

Both brothers have pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Peter Burdon-Kirkwood in Carlton House Terrace, near The Mall on August 11, 2019.

Marc alone has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Tristan Christian on the same occasion and Shaun also denies a count of causing criminal damage to Mr. Burdon-Kirkwood’s mobile phone.

Wannabe model Mr Christian told the jury all four drove from Slough to Central London for an enjoyable night out - drinking on the way - but the brothers were spoiling for trouble in the pub.

He estimated Marc finished half a bottle of rum during the journey and shared the rest with the others.

“The mood changed once everyone had a drink…There was a lot more aggression in the way they were coming across and talking.

“It seemed like they were looking for some sort of trouble.”

He told the jurors the brothers showed off to some girls outside they had stolen a bottle of alcohol from the pub and then began fighting with some friendly passers-by.

Shaun Palmer-Elder

“It came from the boys, it was not provoked. They were giving a whole attitude, a vibe and they wanted a fight and they got a fight.”

“Marc then started throwing glass bottles down the road towards these guys, while there were people walking in the road. I was disgusted.”

He said Marc also threw a punch at a random Romanian rickshaw driver. “Marc punched one of the Tuk Tuk drivers in the mouth and his mouth instantly started bleeding.”

When the police turned up Mr Christian admits he lied to the officers to get his friend off the hook.

All four friends then started walking back to their car. “Marc hit Pete out of nowhere, his nose had popped.

“There was so much blood from one person, I’d never seen before, you only see that in films. His nose burst with blood gushing out, it was so shocking.

“He kind of ran up to Pete and jumped and punched him straight in the face and popped his nose and burst his cheek.

“He still wanted to fight, to hurt anyone and was shouting loads of abuse, like: ‘He’s faking it. He’s a pussy’.

“I spoke to Shaun at the time Marc punched me. As I turned my head he’s punched me so hard I instantly heard this crack and spat out blood and knew my jaw was broken and heard it disconnect.

“It’s horrible that my friend could have done that and he was saying I couldn’t speak if it really was broken.”

When Mr. Burdon-Kirkwood tried to call an ambulance Shaun stopped him, said the witness. “He took Pete’s phone out of his hand and kind of snapped it.”

As the victims tried to get away the injured Mr. Burdon-Kirkwood was struck again, the court heard.

“Marc, again running, jumped and hit Pete again, a very forceful hit and he fell and hit the kerb and was lying lifeless, he was unconscious,” explained Mr. Christian.

“They saw that as an opportunity to kick the life out of him, kicking him, stamping.”

All four returned to the car and during the journey to Slough, Shaun made mocking comment to the injured Mr Burdon-Kirkwood, the jury were told.

Mr Christian said: “He was sitting behind Pete and saying: ‘Do you want me to touch you? Do you want me to do oral to you?’

“That was entertainment to them they were smiling at this point and happy with what they achieved.

“Me and Pete spent the next two days in A & E with serious injuries and I’ve got metal plates in my lower jaw.”

The trial continues and is expected to last four days.