Shocking CCTV played to court shows machete fight in broad daylight on busy Northampton road 10 months before Mason Miller murder
A teenager suffered a fractured skull and ‘catastrophic’ blood loss during a machete fight in Northampton 10 months before Mason Miller was killed, a court has heard.
Mason Miller, 20, was fatally stabbed during an alleged machete fight at Briar Hill Skate Park in Northampton on February 18, 2026.
Three defendants, aged 16, 17 and 18, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, are standing trial at Northampton Crown Court over his death. The prosecution alleges the 16-year-old and 17-year-old murdered Mason and attempted to murder the 18-year-old, while the 18-year-old is also accused of Mason’s murder.
On day three of the trial on Thursday, October 15, jurors were shown CCTV footage of a separate machete incident involving the 16-year-old defendant, the 18-year-old defendant and an unknown male on Sunday, April 6, 2025, 10 months before Mason’s death.
The footage, presented as the prosecution’s first piece of evidence, showed the incident at the junction of Weedon Road and Spencer Bridge Road in Northampton at around 5.09pm.
The court watched CCTV footage which showed two boys arrive on electric bikes and met the now 18-year-old defendant. All three appeared to be carrying machetes, but the prosecution said the unknown male did not strike any blows.
The prosecution alleges the 16-year-old defendant struck the 18-year-old on the head with a machete, causing him to fall and drop his weapon. The incident lasted around one to two minutes and took place in broad daylight during rush hour.
The two riders remained at the scene and watched as the injured 18 year old got back to his feet and walked away before leaving on their bikes.
The 18-year-old made his way towards Sandhill Road, where he collapsed. The prosecution described what happened next in its opening statement:
The prosecution said: "In Sandhill Road, he was overcome by his injuries. He called to a passer-by for help, saying that he had been stabbed, and he then collapsed to the ground. He was given first aid at the scene and the air ambulance was called, landing nearby. After the paramedics took over treating him and he was sufficiently stable to be moved, he was flown to the children’s emergency department at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he was treated for his injuries.
"He had sustained a wound to the top of the right side of his head, beneath which there was a depressed fracture of the skull and damage to the tissue of the brain. He had also received a deep wound to the right side of the neck, which resulted in what the paramedic described as verging on catastrophic blood loss from damage to a major blood vessel."
The prosecution alleges the 16-year-old was one of the e-bike riders involved in the attack. It said CCTV footage and mobile phone data supported its case about who was present at the scene. The 18-year-old identified himself to paramedics.
The 16-year-old was arrested at his home on April 9, 2025, while the 18-year-old was arrested in hospital on April 23. Both were interviewed by police and made no comment to questions.
The April 2025 incident forms part of the wider prosecution case in the trial over the death of Mason Miller, who was stabbed to death almost 10 months later.
The prosecution alleges the 16-year-old and 17-year-old defendants murdered Mason and attempted to murder the 18-year-old, who survived life-threatening injuries for a second time. It also alleges the 18-year-old was involved in Mason’s killing.
Opening the prosecution case, Mark Heywood KC said the four young men were on opposing sides in the February 2026 incident – a two versus two machete fight.
He said: "The prosecution case is that it was the other two defendants, aged 16 and 17, who murdered Mason and attempted to murder the 18-year-old, and that although in this sense the 18-year-old was a victim of the violence inflicted on him, he is also guilty of the murder of Mason Miller.
"The 16-year-old and 17-year-old were on one side. The 18-year-old and Mason on the other. Each would have had their own different hopes for the outcome, but all four, including Mason Miller, shared one common purpose: to trade blows with their machetes, the two on one side intending to kill, or at least to cause the two on the other side really serious harm, and each aware that the two on the other side intended the same towards them.
"CCTV footage and eyewitness evidence shows that each was as willing to fight as the others. This is not a case, we say, where self-defence or the defence of another arises."
The prosecution says the April 2025 incident provides important background to the relationships between those involved in the later violence.
The prosecution is set to analyse CCTV footage showing the moment Mason was fatally stabbed on Friday, October 16.
All three defendants deny the charges against them, including murder and manslaughter.
The trial continues.
The charges
April 2025 incident
Count 1 – 16-year-old defendant
Charged with wounding the 18-year-old with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Pleaded not guilty.
Count 2 – 18-year-old defendant
Charged with attempting to wound the 16-year-old with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Pleaded not guilty.
Count 3 – 16-year-old defendant
Charged with possessing an offensive weapon, the machete allegedly used to wound the 18-year-old, in a public place. Pleaded not guilty.
Separate offensive weapon charge – 18-year-old defendant
The 18-year-old was also charged with possessing an offensive weapon relating to the machete he carried during the April 2025 incident. He pleaded guilty, and this charge is not before the jury.
February 2026 incident
Count 4 – All three defendants, aged 16, 17 and 18
Charged jointly with the murder of Mason Miller, 20. All three pleaded not guilty.
Count 5 – All three defendants, aged 16, 17 and 18
Charged jointly with manslaughter as an alternative to murder. All three pleaded not guilty.
Count 6 – 16-year-old and 17-year-old defendants
Charged with the attempted murder of the 18-year-old. The prosecution must prove they intended to kill him. Both pleaded not guilty.
Count 7 – 16-year-old and 17-year-old defendants
An alternative to Count 6, alleging an attempt to wound the 18-year-old with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Both pleaded not guilty.
Count 8 – 16-year-old defendant
Charged with possessing an offensive weapon, the machete he allegedly carried during the February 2026 incident. Pleaded not guilty.
Count 9 – 17-year-old defendant
Charged with possessing an offensive weapon, the machete he allegedly carried during the February 2026 incident. Pleaded not guilty.
Separate offensive weapon charge – 18-year-old defendant
The 18-year-old was also charged with possessing an offensive weapon relating to the machete he carried during the February 2026 incident. He pleaded guilty, and this charge is not before the jury.