Autistic Vic teen killed with axe: court

A trial will continue for a man accused of murdering an autistic teenager by bashing his skull in with an axe.

Joel Parker Henderson is co-accused in the murder of Timothy "Timmy" O'Brien, 14, at a Scarsdale home, near Ballarat, in January 2013.

Crown prosecutor Christopher Dane, QC, told the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday that Henderson's co-accused, Darren Wilson, was in dispute with his cousin Peter Williams, Timmy's stepfather.

He said Wilson recruited Henderson and others to lure Mr Williams to the Scarsdale home to assault him.

Wilson allegedly punched Mr Williams repeatedly, before Timmy hit Wilson a number of times with a bat.

Mr Dane said Henderson, then Wilson, later struck multiple blows to Timmy's head with an axe, killing the boy.

Mr Dane alleged it was a "collective" attack agreed upon by Wilson and Henderson.

But defence barrister George Georgiou, SC, told the jury there was no such agreement, and Henderson's alleged involvement in Timmy's death was in dispute.

"We say that was at the hands of Mr Wilson, acting independently," Mr Georgiou said.

Henderson has pleaded not guilty.