A man accused of murdering Pokemon Go fan Carl Gregory has denied putting him into a choke hold that led to his death.

John Dickson also claimed he did not see his co-accused Christopher Pollard put the victim in the hold.

He further claimed that when he and his friend walked away from the scene near Westwood Cross, Mr Gregory, 20, was conscious and getting to his feet.

The 27-year-old, of Northdown Road, Margate, was giving evidence at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday.

He and Pollard, formerly of the same address, now of Brimstone Hill, Meopham, are alleged to have made a joint attack on Mr Gregory in a car park outside Hobbycraft on The Link Retail Park on October 4 last year.

The jury has heard Mr Gregory had insulted his ex-girlfriend Chloe Lemare on Facebook and she told her friend Pollard.

After a “heated exchange of words” with Mr Gregory, Pollard, 20, took Dickson with him for a confrontation.

Prosecutor Philippa McAtasney QC said Pollard kicked the victim with steel cap boots and Dickson held him in a choke hold, which led to his death.

Mr Gregory and Miss Lemare had earlier been playing Pokemon Go with other friends.

Questioned by Jonathan Higgs, QC, for Pollard, Dickson denied he at any stage put pressure of Mr Gregory’s neck.

He claimed he had seen Pollard, who he described as being like a brother, put one hand around the victim’s throat for about 40 seconds, but agreed it did not incapacitate him.

Pollard, he said, afterwards had his left arm around the back of his neck.

“I couldn’t see if he was squeezing or if it was just there,” he added. “That contact was closer to a minute. Afterwards he was still struggling and moving.”

He agreed that did not incapacitate Mr Gregory either. There was no further contact with him.

“He was sitting up a bit and looking around,” he said.

Dickson said after they walked off, Pollard wanted to go back, but he stopped him.

They then went to the QEQM Hospital because Pollard’s finger was bleeding from being bitten.

He said of Pollard being arrested at the hospital: “I didn’t realise it was to do with what happened in the car park.”

Mr Higgs replied: “Really? You knew full well it was to do with that, didn’t you? You just left somebody unconscious on the ground.”

Dickson said: “I didn’t know it was the same incident. That’s where I was confused. I didn’t understand someone had been found dead and Chris had been involved in it.

“I still couldn’t believe he was dead. There was a lot of doubt he was dead. I thought the police could have been lying about it.”

Dickson denied he confessed to five different people he had put Mr Gregory in a choke hold. “I didn’t admit it to anybody,” he claimed.

Asked by Miss McAtasney how he was suggesting Mr Gregory died, Dickson said: “I am not one hundred per cent sure. I am not a pathologist or doctor.

"I know I didn’t do anything around the neck or at all.”

Miss McAtasney: “You didn’t see Mr Pollard get him around the neck to the point where he is incapacitated, so neither of you have done it. That’s your case is it?

Dickson: “Yes.”

Miss McAtasney: “Do you now accept it was you who applied the fatal choke hold?

Dickson: “No, not at all.”

“The last point I looked at him he is getting up" - John Dickson

Asked if Pollard had done so, he replied: “Not that I have seen.” He maintained Mr Gregory was perfectly fine when they left.

“The last point I looked at him he is getting up,” he continued.

Dickson had stated he did not even know what a choke hold was, but the prosecutor told him: “You have had first aid training. Is that why you couldn’t bring yourself to accept you applied that choke hold to Mr Gregory which killed him.”

He answered: “No.”

He agreed he did not know Mr Gregory or Miss Lemare. He described his relationship with Pollard as being “like brothers”.

“When he was going out, I felt I should go out with him sort of thing,” he added.

The trial continues.