Football fan accused of killing Warwickshire man says he threw ‘defensive one punch shot’
Lewis MacLeod, 36, is on trial at Inner London Crown Court
A football fan has told a jury he threw a “defensive left one punch shot” during a night out in which a man was killed.
Lewis MacLeod, 36, travelled to London from the North East on September 12 last year for a Premier League match between Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
MacLeod said he was “scared and terrified” when he threw the punch in the early hours of the next day at Michael Edwards, 43, outside a convenience store on Borough High Street, south-east London.
MacLeod, of Sunderland, was charged with the manslaughter of Mr Edwards, of Warwickshire, who died in hospital four days later.
On Thursday MacLeod told Inner London Crown Court he never meant to cause serious injury to Mr Edwards, saying: “I’m absolutely devastated and always will be.
“I never wanted this to happen. I’m gutted.”
MacLeod said he and his friend David Jackson had just “walked away” from an incident outside Belushi’s bar involving Mr Edwards and his friend James Roberts who were “getting angry” – but they were followed by the two men.
MacLeod said he stepped into a shop because he “thought it would be safer” but Mr Edwards and his friend were telling them to “get outside now”.
MacLeod added: “I was absolutely terrified and scared. Who would not be scared of the two men. They were definitely going for trouble.”
MacLeod told them he was sorry and Mr Jackson also urged them to calm down and leave the situation alone.
MacLeod added: “I was just that scared and in fear that they were not taking no for an answer.”
He recalled his hand being touched twice like he was about to be pulled out of the shop.
MacLeod said he felt he was “going to get seriously hurt by these two big men and I just gave them a defensive left one punch shot”.
MacLeod then stood with his arms apart and outstretched in the witness box as he told the jury that this was how he was standing when he told the men to “leave it” and then delivered the blow.
Mr Edwards fell backwards onto the street and hit his head, and there was blood on the pavement when he was moved, jurors have heard.
A fight then broke out between MacLeod and Roberts who moved into the shop and knocked items over inside.
MacLeod said: “It all happened fast because his friend punched me straight away but I was trying to defend myself.
“I fractured my eye socket and I was on the floor. I was hazy, dazed and hurt.”
Mr Jackson tried to separate them and at some point MacLeod punched him as he was crouched down.
MacLeod told the court: “I should not have. I accept I was in the wrong.”
He walked away from the shop without realising how badly Mr Edwards had been hurt.
MacLeod said his memory is not clear as he walked away from the fight but he knows he took some more cocaine, and was “shocked” when the police arrested him and said Mr Edwards was seriously hurt.
MacLeod had started the evening at about 4pm and felt “OK” after drinking eight pints at a pub near King’s Cross.
He later moved to another pub in Elephant and Castle where he did not finish a vodka and coke and took cocaine at both venues.
He also had two beers at Belushi’s, the court heard.
Jurors have seen CCTV footage of Mr Edwards and Roberts vaping outside Belushi’s when Mr Jackson and MacLeod were asked to leave the bar.
Outside the venue, the footage showed MacLeod trying to shake hands with Mr Edwards, and then trying repeatedly to touch his groin, which Mr Edwards batted away.
MacLeod and Mr Jackson then moved off, while Mr Edwards and Roberts gestured after them, and went to speak to security.
MacLeod has previously admitted a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm against Roberts, for punching him while he checked on Mr Edwards, who was lying motionless on the ground.
Roberts has denied a charge of affray in relation to the incident and is awaiting trial.
MacLeod had travelled to stay with Mr Jackson, before they were to go to Selhurst Park for the Sunderland and Crystal Palace match on September 13, which ended in a 0-0 draw.