Man was kicked down stairs before death, jury told

A man died after he was kicked down stairs during a row with his neighbour's boyfriend, a jury has been told.

Sean Howson, 56, died in hospital three days after the incident at flats in Albany Road, Skegness, which happened on 3 July at about 20:30 GMT.

Aston Harris, 19, of Uffington Avenue, Lincoln, denies manslaughter.

His trial at Lincoln Crown Court heard the men had argued over rubbish left in a shared shed, which led to a "rat problem".

Katherine Goddard KC, prosecuting, said Howson had complained to the housing association about the rubbish and there was little doubt the issue had caused a "simmering tension".

On the day of the incident, Howson had been drinking with a friend in the garden of his ground floor flat when an argument broke out with Harris, whose girlfriend lived in the flat above.

According to the prosecution, there was a brief exchange of words between the two men at some point after 20:00, followed by messages. Howson and his friend then went up the stairway towards the upstairs flat.

Goddard told the jury Harris kicked Howson, who fell backwards down the stairway and struck his head on the concrete floor. Harris then "fled the scene".

The prosecution accepted Harris had no intention of killing Howson, but Goddard said: "That kick was uncalled for, that kick was unlawful, that kick ending Mr Howson's life amounts to manslaughter."

The court heard Harris approached a police officer about five hours after the incident and said: "I was literally defending myself, he came at me."

During a police interview, Harris claimed he had been stared at and verbally assaulted by Howson. He had not intended to use violence, but Howson had hit him.

Goddard told jurors they would likely have to consider whether Harris was acting in self defence when he delivered the single kick.

The trial continues.

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