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Baker trial: 'It wasn't self defence'

By: Danny Boyle

Published: 14:39, 17 April 2008

Paul Baker
Oliver O'Bryan
Christopher O'Bryan
Daniel Becks-Evans

THREE men accused of killing a Chislehurst clubber and booting his body “like a football” were equally responsible for his death, a court heard.

Brothers Christopher and Oliver O’Bryan and Daniel Becks-Evans left unconscious Paul Baker, 25, bleeding from the head after repeatedly kicking him in a fight outside a Chislehurst pub, a jury was told.

Delivering her closing speech on Thursday, prosecutor Frances Oldham QC said the trio turned on outnumbered Mr Baker – who grew up in Sidcup and lived in Chislehurst – in a scuffle outside The Lounge bar.

Mr Baker’s head hit the pavement with a thud that “went right through” one witness to the incident on May 7 last year.

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He died of severe head injuries in hospital the following day.

Mrs Oldham said: “The three defendants were involved in a fight in which they were willing participants. There is no issue of self-defence.

“They were involved in unlawful violence. They were acting together and each, therefore, bears responsibility for that young man’s death.”

The fight started when Mr Baker flew into a rage after allegedly hearing Becks-Evans say something as he walked past him with ex-girlfriend Naomi Burgin.

Oliver O’Bryan has told the court Mr Baker was a “lunatic” and acting very aggressively.

But Mrs Oldham told jurors: “Yes, he was upset and angry that night, but do not lose sight of the central issue in this case.

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“Why did Paul Baker die? Why did he lose his life? Did he attack the defendants, as the defence would have you believe, when he was on his own and clearly outnumbered? No, that is not what happened.”

Christopher O’Bryan, 26, his brother Oliver, 23 – both from Tonbridge – and Daniel Becks-Evans, 27 – of Lees Green, Chislehurst – deny manslaughter and violent disorder.

They claim they were acting in self-defence and did not kick Mr Baker as he lay dying on the floor.

Samuel Evans, 25, was acquitted of both charges on the orders of Judge Peter Rook QC.

The jury of eight men and three women is expected to retire to consider its verdicts next week.

The trial continues.

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