Teenager 'scared for my life' before man's death

A teenager accused of killing his girlfriend's neighbour by kicking him down a flight of stairs said he was "scared for my life" at the time.

Aston Harris, 19, is on trial at Lincoln Crown Court for the manslaughter of Sean Howson, 56, which he denies.

He said he believed Howson "wanted to hurt me" during the confrontation at flats in Albany Road, Skegness, on 3 July last year.

Harris, of Uffington Avenue, Lincoln, added: "When he got close and I knew he was in range to attack me, I kicked him."

Howson, 56, died in hospital three days after the incident.

The court previously heard the two men had argued over rubbish left in a shared shed.

They exchanged messages about the issue before Howson, who was with a friend, climbed the stairs from his ground-floor flat to the first-floor property where Harris was staying with his girlfriend.

The prosecution alleges Harris delivered an unlawful kick that caused Howson to fall down the stairs.

Giving evidence, Harris insisted he did not want to hurt Howson and was only protecting himself.

He told jurors he fled up the stairs as Howson came towards him.

"He looked scary to me," Harris said. "I was screaming, telling him to stop, telling him to get back."

After Howson fell backwards, Harris said he saw blood, panicked and grabbed a bag.

"It felt horrible to know he died," Harris told the jury.

The court heard Harris fled to a park but approached a police officer some five hours after the incident and said: "I was literally defending myself, he [Howson] came at me."

The trial continues.

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