A teenager inflicted fatal injuries on a man after chasing him from a party in Deal and attacking him with a heavy broom, a court heard.

Victim Marc Brown was found staggering around smelling of alcohol and it was at first thought he was merely drunk.

It was not until he was taken to a local hospital it was realised he had suffered a fractured skull. The 23-year-old was taken to a London hospital for emergency surgery but died six days later.

Shane Penfold, of Adelaide Road, Elvington, denies murder and perverting the course of justice.

Maidstone Crown Court heard both Penfold, 19, and Mr Brown had been to a birthday party held at a factory in Great Mongeham. Deal.

Towards the end of the evening a fight broke out. A friend of Penfold was hit with either a bottle or glass. Penfold believed Mr Brown was responsible and chased him along Mongeham Road.

Eleanor Laws, prosecuting, said they went into a garden. Josh Vowles, who was also at the party, followed them and saw that Penfold had a yard broom in his hands.

Miss Laws told the jury Mr Vowles saw Penfold bringing the broom down into some bushes "as if swinging an axe". He then joined Mr Vowles in the car and said something lik "that will teach him a lesson" or "that serves him right".

Mr Brown was found staggering and slurring his words by Kevin Court, of Mongeham Road.

Paramedics believed Mr Brown was drunk, although there was a lot of blood in the garden.

He was taken to hospital, where doctors were also under the impression he was intoxicated. They found wounds on his head and stitched them.

The trial continues.

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