Downham Market murder: Pair 'launched second joint attack'

Wayne Peckham, 49, and Riley Peckham, 23, are on trial at Norwich Crown Court accused of the murder of Matthew Rodwell. Both men deny the charges.

Mr Rodwell, 39, died at the home of Wayne's wife Kerry - with whom he was having a relationship - in Bulrush Avenue, Downham Market, on January 23 last year.

The prosecution allege the pair acted together in this attack, as they had in an incident just over a month earlier, where they are both said to have attacked Max Hudson and his family at his home in the town.

Riel Karmy-Jones KC, prosecuting, said Mr Hudson and girlfriend Georgia, had been in Tesco in Downham Market on December 4, 2021, when they saw Riley, who they both knew.

Giving evidence on Tuesday (January 31), Mr Hudson said he heard Riley tell his girlfriend "I'm not a rapist", following an altercation between the two of them.

Mr Hudson intervened when Riley started shouting at his girlfriend and he told him to "be the bigger man", in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

But he said Riley replied "'I'll see you later', or something along those lines" before he left Tesco.

Mr Hudson left Tesco and returned to his home in Downham before receiving two calls from Riley a few minutes later.

The jury of seven men and five women heard Mr Hudson ignored the first call but answered the second.

He said it was an "aggressive call" in which Riley "threatened to come to my house", having stated: "What was that all about?"

The court heard Riley told Mr Hudson: "I will come to your house and will be there in about 10 minutes and will bust in the door."

Mr Hudson said he heard someone in the background on the call - who turned out to be Riley's father Wayne - who was "very aggressive" and had been "egging him on", saying something like "come on, let's go to the house".

Mr Hudson said he locked his door and went to sit on the sofa with his girlfriend.

The court heard "someone then burst through the doors very aggressively", jumped on him and "punched me in the face a few times".

Mr Hudson, whose girlfriend was also hit, was bitten by Riley, who he hit back and "removed him from the house into the garden".

He said Riley's father then "tried to enter my home" but he hit him as he attempted to get in.

Mr Hudson said he "didn't want him in the house" and hit him a couple of times during the scuffle.

He "continued to fight with them" as his mother and stepfather woke up and came to help.

The court heard Mr Hudson said the Peckhams were "making threats" to his mother and girlfriend.

Riley told Mr Hudson's mother "I'm going to kill you, you slag" and made "similar threats" to Georgia.

Mr Hudson helped to restrain Riley and his stepfather dealt with Wayne with the pair of them restrained by the time police arrived shortly after midnight.

When Riley initially stormed in the house, Mr Hudson said he was "shocked" describing him as being "very aggressive".

He added he was "shocked he would bring his father to break into another man's home where my family live".

Mr Hudson added that they had "invaded my home" and with his family present "didn't take lightly to threats.

He said: "I did everything I could to protect my home."

As well as murder, Wayne Peckham, of Manby Close, Hilgay, near Downham, has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Mrs Peckham on January 23 last year.

He has also denied two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another offence of assault by beating in relation to the incident on December 4, 2021.

Riley Peckham, also of Manby Close, has denied murder on January 23 last year and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the December incident.

The trial continues.