A DJ apologised to the family of a close friend, w

A DJ apologised to the family of a close friend, who he killed in a fight, after an Old Bailey jury cleared him of murder.

Daren Garton, 23, had accepted that he delivered the fatal blow to pal Dean Costello, during the violent row last April.

But Garton maintained in evidence that he only fought back in self-defence as Mr Costello, 26, attacked him.

The jury took over four hours to acquit Garton of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter on April 20 last year.

Garton, of Elgin Road, Wallington, denied the charges.

Outside court Garton, smartly dressed in a black suit, shirt and tie, was close to tears as he said: ‘I would just like to say I’m sorry to his family.

‘I’m relieved it’s all over.

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The fall out between the pair was triggered when Mr Costello accused Garton of interfering in his love life.

Opening the case prosecutor Sir Allan Green, QC, said Mr Costello flew into a rage after hearing how Garton had tried to set his girlfriend Laura Matthews up with another man.

The QC said Miss Matthews was ‘miserable’ so, to try and cheer her up, Garton and his partner Shona Hall invited her to join them on a day trip to Brighton.

And Garton asked a friend of his to come along to make up a foursome.

‘The trouble arose because Mr Costello learnt about these events and he was angry about Daren believing that Daren and Shona were trying to set up Laura with a new boyfriend,’ continued counsel.

On April 17, 1999, Mr Costello later spoke to Miss Matthews and said he was going to kick Daren’s head in – although she told him ‘not to be silly.

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But Miss Matthews phoned Miss Hall and the defendant then heard what his old friend had been saying he was going to do to him.

Later Garton telephoned Mr Costello asking what the matter only to be told:

‘I’ll kick your head in and I’ll kill you.

Get your arse round here.

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The court was told that Garton picked up three friends from the Roundshaw Estate and drove round to Mr Costello’s home in Herald Gardens, Hackbridge.

There Miss Matthews claimed that Garton pushed past her and attacked Mr Costello on his bed.

Sir Allan had alleged that drunken Mr Costello offered little resistance as Garton unleashed a series of ferocious blows to his head with his bare hands.

Mr Costello was left lying in a pool of blood and eventually an ambulance was called to the address.

The victim, who had sustained a fractured skull and a broken nose, was moved from St Hellier Hospital to the Atkinson Morley Hospital where, after brain surgery failed, he was pronounced dead in the early hours of April 20.

The court had heard that the bone in his skull was ‘thinner than average.

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Giving evidence Garton said he had been friends with Mr Costello for some years and they had considered opening a record shop together.

And Garton, who said he had not had a fight since he was at school, denied he had tried to set up one of his friends with Miss Matthews during the trip to Brighton.

But Garton said he later learnt that Mr Costello had ‘flipped’ into a rage.

Garton blamed his friend’s anger on Miss Matthews, who he described as a ‘wind up merchant’ and a ‘s–t stirrer.

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He said shortly before the fight Mr Costello telephoned him and threatened to kill him.

And he told the court he only went to his friend’s home first because he feared Mr Costello would come to his house.

But Garton said he just wanted to sort things out because they were friends.

Garton explained that when he went into the bedroom Mr Costello got up, took two paces towards him, and then threw a punch which did not land properly.

He said his pal tried to punch him again and then put his hands around his throat so he hit back and his fist connected with the left side of Mr Costello’s head.

‘It was probably the heaviest punch I threw,’ Garton said.

‘I did it because I felt under threat.

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Garton said he could not recall how many punches he landed but accepted from the medical evidence that he must have hit Mr Costello more than once.

He told the jury they both grappled on the bed together and eventually he pushed Mr Costello back onto the bed after telling him to ‘grow up.

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Garton denied that anyone said to him: ‘Leave it out, you’ve done enough.

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He said when he left the house he was ‘upset’ about the fight but he did not think Mr Costello was badly injured.

He added that he was ‘suprised’ when he learnt that an ambulance had to be called.

And Garton said he was devastated when he was told his friend had died.

ends