A trainee carpenter later told the Old Bailey how

A trainee carpenter later told the Old Bailey how he played pool with the young drinker he is accused of battering to death just moments later.

Nugent admitted arguing with victim Mr Thomas and his friend Mr Shillibeer after flashing a toy laser pen in their eyes.

But he said the three reconciled and even played pool together.

Nugent told the court he had gone to the Litten Tree alone at noon on June 15 after picking up his pay-packet.

He said: ‘I was demonstrating the laser pen to a friend I met in the pub and accidentally shone it at the group.

‘I had never seen them before and so apologised.

‘Throughout the afternoon, I didn’t really see them again.

I played pool, drank and spoke to people I knew.

‘

He told how he watched a Euro 2000 football match with co-defendant Sylvester Oti when he was approached by Mr Thomas.

Nugent told the court: ‘He accused me of looking over at him and said I was ‘mugging’ him.

He asked what my problem was.

‘I said I didn’t have a problem and didn’t want trouble.

After that I moved to another area of the bar – there was no animosity.

‘

Nugent was then joined by another friend Jason O’Keefe who challenged Mr Thomas and Shillibeer to game of pool, it was heard.

‘We played and afterwards shook hands.

They apologised for the argument earlier and I said ‘don’t worry’.

‘

The court was shown video footage from the pub’s spy cameras which appeared to show Nugent walking around the bar area holding a mobile phone to his ear.

It also appeared to show him emerging from the toilet area shortly before the alleged beating outside the pub.

Nugent continued: ‘I was called by my girlfriend and I picked up my voicemail messages.

I did not make any calls because my phone was out of credit.

‘When I came out of the toilet, the bar area seemed empty and there were people gathered near the doorway.

‘As I went outside there were a few people out there.

I could see a man lying on the floor with blood around his mouth.

‘In the distance I could see several people running away.

I recognised the man on the floor as the one who had argued with me earlier.

‘I didn’t know who was responsible and I had nothing whatsoever to do with him lying there.

‘

He told the jury he returned to the pub and finished his drink with friends before leaving.

Two weeks later, Nugent was questioned by police in connection with the murder.

The trial continues.

ends