He scared me so I hit him, jury told

AMAN accused of murdering his neighbour following an early-morning row has insisted he did not mean to cause serious harm to his friend and had been acting in self-defence.

Nathaniel Nuttall had been socialising with Lee Thomas at the latter’s home last year when a spat between the pair ensued.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Nuttall, aged 32, punched Mr Thomas to the head several times before using his feet to kick and stamp on him after the 41-year-old fell to the floor.

Mr Thomas was taken to hospital with severe head injuries. He died less than a month later.

The prosecution alleges Nuttall used excessive force and had intended to cause his friend serious injury.

On day three of the case, the defendant entered the witness box to give evidence and said that Mr Thomas, who needed dialysis for a kidney problem, had “scared him”.

Following questions from his counsel, John Hipkin QC, the defendant told jurors about incidents during 2019 involving him and Mr Thomas.

He said that one time, while in the flat, Mr Thomas got on top of him as he sat on the sofa and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

He also told the court “he (Mr Thomas) has slapped me many times”.

Previously, the trial heard that Nuttall often used to do the shopping for his neighbour.

The defendant was questioned about this and the days leading up to October 13 last year – when Mr Thomas sustained his injuries.

The court heard that on October 9 Nuttall bought alcohol for Mr Thomas from a local shop – but didn’t buy any for his friend’s partner, Sally Roberts.

Nuttall said he gave the alcohol to his neighbour then returned to his flat – but there was constant banging on his floor from below and demands for alcohol and for him to go down.

Nuttall, who has a history of mental health and alcohol issues, said the situation became “overwhelming” for his anxiety – and he left the flat intending to go to his nan’s but instead ended up in the A&E department at Haverfordwest Hospital.

The court heard that from the hospital Nuttall went to a psychiatric unit, where he spent the night before being discharged and taking a taxi home.

Regarding the events of October 13, the defendant said Mr Thomas had slapped him in the face and refused to let him leave the flat following a row about Miss Roberts.

He added that he felt “scared” and “trapped” in the living-room.

He said “I never hit him back before”, adding: “I was worried that me hitting him back, he would have gone nuts at me.”

Asked by his barrister why he called for an ambulance, the defendant said “he [Mr Thomas] was out too long”.

Mr Hipkin asked: “Did you mean to cause him really serious injury?”

Nuttall said: “No, I was just scared what he was going to do with me.”

Nuttall, of Tenby Court in Monkton, Pembroke, denies murder.

The case is set to resume today.