A murder trial took a dramatic turn today after a Broadstairs woman telephoned the police after reading our report on the alleged killing of a homeless man.

Kim Matthews was alerted to the KentOnline story in which Trevor Brazier is accused of strangling Kevin Tridgell, 38.

She claimed she had witnessed an incident in May last year just weeks before Mr Tridgell died.

Ms Matthews told a jury how she recorded on her mobile phone an incident in which Brazier taunts the victim about being homeless.

She alleged Brazier threatened that if the homeless Mr Tridgell didn’t leave the area would return with a Stanley knife and slit his throat.

DC Joe Bird told the court the police had been contacted this week by Ms Matthews after our report on the first day of the trial at Maidstone Crown Court appeared online.

Ms Matthews then gave evidence via video link and told the jury how her daughter contacted her last week.

"She read me the article from KentOnline and sent me a Facebook image of Trevor Brazier, 49,

"I said 'Oh my god' because it was the same man as the person I witnessed having an argument with Kevin.

"I recorded it and have given the recording to the police.

“I then went onto Facebook and looked for name Trevor Brazier and found images which I then gave to police as well, “ she added.

She said she knew the Cliftonville area as she is a cyclist and often visits the Costcutters store.

Ms Matthews said she became aware of Mr Tridgell who was living in a disused shop.

"I was told he was called Kevin and was surrounded by rubbish in the doorway of the Premier Shop.

"He was a big man whose appearance was dirty and he had a beard."

She told the jury she had seen him at times in Upper Dane Road and on a bench near the TMS shop where he often asked for cigarettes.

"He had a sleeping bag and an umbrella to protect him from the wind."

She said she was cycling in the early hours of a morning in May last year as she wasn't feeling well and needed fresh air.

"It was just after 3am. I went to Cliftonville and I cycled past the doorway where Kevin usually was.

"I could hear shouting echoing up Northdown Road.

"I then saw Kevin lying on his side and a man facing him. I had never before seen the man. I heard hear him shouting: "Go home."

She said Brazier was very drunk and very aggressive. He was staggering."

Ms Matthews carried on cycling down to the Esplanade before returning home via Northdown Road.

"I took that route because I could still hear the shouting. Kevin was saying: "Go home. Go home."

"I stopped my bike and saw Brazier standing over him saying he didn't like people like Mr Tridgell.

"He was making threats but I couldn't make them out.”

She added: “Kevin was saying, 'Please stop threatening me.' so I decided to record the conversation.

"I asked Kevin if that was a threat to kill him and he said yes it was.”

She claimed Brazier then turned towards her telling her to go home.

She then moved towards the two men and began recording as Mr Tridgell is heard shouting for him to stop the threats and go home.

"I didn't go home because I didn't think it was fair and I was concerned for him."

The jury heard that hours before Brazier had called the police to ask them to move the homeless Mr Tridgell as he was begging.

Brazier, of Northdown Road, Margate has denied murder.

His barrister, Oliver Saxby QC said Brazier didn’t dispute he was the man having the argument because doesn’t have a clear memory of the incident.

The trial continues.

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