Man denies responsibility for Anthony Johnson Southport death

Jul 21 2010 by Lynda Roughley, Formby Times

THE second of two men accused of kicking another man to death in Southport has denied responsibility.

Steven Keegan, a gas fitter, told a Liverpool Crown Court jury he had only punched victim Tony Johnson twice in the side.

The court has heard Mr Johnson, 47, died from blunt force trauma to his head and face in the attack in Lord Street in the early hours of December 30.

Keegan, 26, told the jury how he saw his co-accused James Thompson punching and kicking Mr Johnson.

Keegan and 25-year-old Thompson, both of Dobbs Drive, Formby, deny murder. It is alleged that they both kicked him to the head.

Keegan’s friend, Paul O’Brien, 27, of Mark Road, Hightown, denies assaulting a friend of Mr Johnson.

The court has heard as the defendants left a nightclub, Thompson allegedly shoutedŠ something “nasty andŠ insulting” to a young woman, Natalie Mentha.Š

Miss Mentha confronted Thompson and she and her friend were ushered away by a member of the public but they and the defendants crossed paths again on LordŠ Street, said Stephen Riordan, QC, prosecuting.

Mr Johnson’s group arrived on the scene and after Miss Mentha complained that Thompson had abused her two of them went over to the defendants and told them to calm down.

But Mr Johnson was allegedly punched to the floor and repeatedly kicked in the head. An off duty police officer saw two men kicking him and sprinted over and arrested Thompson.