Man accused of murder outside pub feared brother would be killed, court told

A MAN accused of the murder of a fisherman outside a Royal British Legion club told police he was acting out of self-defence believing his brother could be killed in a fight that had broken out, a court has heard.

Draven Jewell, 21, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the murder of father-of-one Max Maguire outside the club in Lymington in the New Forest, Hampshire.

He is also accused of attacking two friends of Mr Maguire, Luke Gray and Georgia Hole, during the incident shortly before midnight on October 22, 2021.

He has pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon – a Huusk chef’s knife. His brother Garon Jewell, 19, was formally acquitted of his part in the incident after the prosecution offered no evidence.

The prosecution claims the fight broke out following a disagreement between two groups inside the pub after one challenged Garon Jewell over his age. Tensions also rose over a nitrous oxide canister that Draven Jewell had found and brought to the club but refused to sell to the other group. Mr Jewell, of Lymington, denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter of Mr Maguire, from Pennington. He also denies the attempted murder of Mr Gray and two charges of wounding Mr Gray.

The trial continues.