'I’m a nice person, I would never hurt a soul on my life' insists Blackhall murder trial defendant

By Mark Payne

Published 19th Apr 2021, 16:33 BST

Updated 20th Apr 2021, 10:47 BST

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A man has admitted murdering a Blackhall man who was found dead in his bed after dramatically changing his plea.

Marty Bates, 31, of Tenth Street, Blackhall Colliery, previously denied the murder of John Littlewood, 36, and has been standing trial at Teesside Crown Court for several weeks.

But on Monday, April 19, the charge was put to him again and he pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Littlewood between Friday, July 26, and Wednesday, July 31, in 2019.