By Lynda Roughley

    Anthony Johnson 

Two men accused of kicking another man to death in Southport have denied responsibility.

James Thompson, who is alleged to have kicked 47-year-old Anthony Johnson several times in the head, claims that he had just reacted to being hit.

Steven Keegan claims that he only punched Mr Johnson twice in the side and denies kicking him at all.

Liverpool Crown Court has heard that 47-year-old Mr Johnson died from blunt force trauma to his head and face in the attack in Lord Street in the early hours of December 30 last year.

Keegan, 26, told the jury yesterday (Thursday July 15, 2010)  how he saw Thompson punching and kicking Mr Johnson.

Keegan and Thompson, both of Dobbs Drive, Formby, deny murder. It is alleged that they both kicked him to the head.

Alongside them in the dock is Keegan's friend, Paul O'Brien, 27, of Mark Road, Hightown, who denies assaulting a friend of Mr Johnson.

The court has heard as the defendants left a night club, Thompson allegedly shouted something “nasty and  insulting” to a young woman, Natalie Mentha. 

Miss Mentha confronted Thompson and she and her friend were ushered away by a member of the public but they and the defendants crossed paths again on Lord Street, said Stephen Riordan, QC, prosecuting.

Mr Johnson's group arrived on the scene and after Miss Mentha complained that Thompson had abused her two of them went over to the defendants and told them to calm down.

But Mr Johnson was allegedly punched to the floor and repeatedly kicked in the head. An off duty police officer saw two men kicking him and sprinted over and arrested Thompson.

Keegan, Thompson’s sister’s boyfriend, told the court that Miss Mentha had slapped Thompson. Shortly afterward he saw three men walking towards them and when he turned round again one was asking them what had happened.

"They were quite pushy, saying 'who's been threatening the girls?', "he said. "I explained she had slapped my mate."

Keegan said he felt intimidated by the men and said to O'Brien 'come on, let's go.'

He said he turned and saw the man standing in front of Thompson punch him  on the jaw and the other two men started walking towards him and O'Brien.

Keegan said he looked past the man in front of him and could see Mr Johnson on top of Thompson. "James was lying down with his back arched up. The man was kneeling on top of him. They were throwing punches at each other, they were going to the face.

"I just saw this big guy towering over him and I ran over shouting 'get off him, get off him.I just punched him twice to the side, just over the hip.

"I saw James' face covered in blood. I ran to the back of him and put my arms under his and dragged him out from underneath him. James got to his feet. He just kicked out with his right leg and they landed on his face."

Keegan said another man grabbed him by the face and when he shook himself free he saw another man coming at him with an iron bar so he ran off. 

After getting lost he caught a bus home and when he got back his girlfriend told him the police had been around and they returned shortly afterwards and he was taken away for interview.

Asked by his barrister, Bob Marshall Andrews, QC, iif he had kicked Mr Johnson he replied, "no."

Cross examined by Mr Riordan, as to who had caused the fatal injuries he replied, "I have told you what I have seen and that caused those injuries:"

Thompson, a 25-year-old quantity surveyor, who has practised martial arts, told the jury how Mr Johnson was in front of him and he described him as "quite big and threatening" and said he did not want to argue with him.

"It was obviously escalating and I just turned to walk away. I thought, 'I've had enough of this' and didn't want to hang around.

"Then the guy in front of me just grabbed my left shoulder. I turned round to see what he was doing and then I got hit in the face."

Thompson said the next thing he remembered was being on the floor, panicking and then being helped up and kicking out once, before seeing Mr Johnson on the ground.

Asked how he felt about Mr Johnson's death he said, "I don't know, it's strange. I am not happy. It didn't need to happen."

Cross-examined he said that the victim was "responsible for his own death.

"I just reacted to a threatening situation. I didn't do anything I had a choice to do."

Thompson claimed that he had reacted after being "battered to bits" and said he did not accept his actions caused Mr Johnson's death. "It was his actions," he said.

The case continues