by Keith Hunt

A man accused of manslaughter has denied punching the victim, claiming he only pushed him away in self-defence.

Mark Cable said he had believed Paul Howarth was going to strike him with a can of beer he was holding.

"I thought he had just fallen over drunk," he told Maidstone Crown Court. "I was shocked that someone could fall over like that."

Mr Howarth, 52, suffered a severe injury as he struck his head on the pavement in Birchington and died two days later.

The 47-year-old lorry driver said on April 9 last year he planned to watch motorcycle racing on television.

His partner asked him to take a DVD back to friends, but he denied it put him in a bad mood.

As he went to his car, he saw Mr Howarth, Matthew Lynch and Kerrie Mason coming up Lymington Road, all holding cans of beer and smoking "funny fags".

His car had a screeching fan belt and Mr Howarth shouted something.

"I asked him what his problem was," said Cable. "He come stomping towards my car. I got out and went to the rear to defuse the situation.

"I told him to ---- off and to come back when he has not got an audience and he is not drunk. He said he was going to stick to me like glue.

"He called me a fat ----. I said: 'Do yourself a favour, come back tomorrow. You know where I live now and we will sort it out then.' He said: 'I will.'

"His manner was upset, angry. I told him to ---- off three times. He walked away. He turned around and said: '---- you, you fat ----."

"Kerrie Mason said to Paul Howarth: 'Is he some sort of hard man? Do him now." He said: 'I will.'

"He spun round to start to come towards me. I thought he was going to attack me. I walked briskly towards him. I hadn't lost my temper. As I got closer, he had the can raised in his right hand.

"I thought he was going to hit me with it. He looked upset. I pushed him on the shoulder and told him to ---- off again.

"I used moderate force. He fell over. I just thought he was drunk. I didn't see any blood."

Cable, of Stone Barn Avenue, Birchington, denies manslaughter.

The trial continues.