Murder accused was 'trying to diffuse dangerous situation'

Nathan Robbie Buckland, who is accused of the murder of Iain Lee, from Newton Aycliffe, took to the stand to give evidence in his trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

The 25-year-old, of Lumley Close, Newton Aycliffe, denies the charge.

• Newton Aycliffe man died after being 'felled with single punch'

He is alleged to have punched Mr Lee during an incident in the early hours of Saturday, September 8, causing the 31-year-old to fall back and hit his head on the road, a short distance from The Roundhouse pub in Newton Aycliffe.

The Roundhouse pub, Newton Aycliffe

But Mr Buckland denied he had punched Mr Lee after pursuing him down Stephenson Way, telling jurors he had been trying to grab his collar but had stumbled, causing the pair to fall to the ground.

Jurors have been told that both men had been socialising at The Roundhouse that night, but there had been an “atmosphere”, and altercations involving a group of men, including Mr Lee.

Mr Buckland claims Mr Lee had asked him for cocaine on three or four occasions during the course of the evening.

Just prior to the incident which left Mr Lee lying unconscious in a bus stop, Mr Buckland says he became involved to try and diffuse a dangerous situation.

He added: “The police could have been called by door staff and management before but they hadn’t.

“I believe we were in a very hostile situation. If I was the only person that would take action then so be it.”

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He added Mr Lee had been making threats and he feared for what might happen to him.

When asked what he thought Iain Lee was capable of, he said: “It wasn’t so much what Iain Lee was capable of. It was more he was going up against some pretty nasty characters. It was what could have happened to him.

“He wasn’t going to let this lie.”

He added: “It was like he was on a mission to self-destruct and cause as much aggravation as possible.”

Mr Buckland says he pursued Mr Lee when he started to run away because he thought he would return to the pub. He added: “I didn’t see any way he was walking away.”

Describing what happened when he caught up with him, he said: “I remember running down the road and I gained on Iain.

“With my right hand I’ve gone to grab his collar after which he’s turned and as he’s turning he’s stuck his left leg out, which caused me to go over.

“His arm came round with him. There was a fist motion. I had my right hand on his collar and when the punch came I took my left hand and pushed his hand away from myself.”

He denied punching him.

Earlier in the trial, witnesses claimed they had heard Mr Buckland make comments including “one punch and he’s down.”

When asked whether the witnesses had “got it wrong,” Mr Buckland replied: “Yes.”

The court heard Mr Buckland had been sober at the time of the incident, having only drunk three bottles of dark fruit cider and pints of non-alcoholic lager.

The defendant, who works as a project manager for an architecture company, was also questioned about boxing and whether he was a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

He said he was not an MMA fighter and had spent “no more than” 30 hours in the boxing gym, and denied knowing how to punch.

Mr Lee died in hospital, eleven days after the incident, on September 19, never having regained consciousness.

Earlier in the day, Home Office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper gave evidence as to the nature of Mr Lee’s injuries and the cause of his death, which he gave as being the result of a blunt head injury.

He said: “All features are consistent as being the end result of a fall with the head striking something hard and flat, very hard.”

He said it was possible that Mr Lee, who had two skull fractures and bleeding and swelling in the brain, could have been injured as a result of falling due to intoxication.

But he added: “But the degree of damage is severe. It’s much more likely it’s an accelerated fall.”

When asked about what could have “accelerated” the fall, the pathologist said one of more of the injuries to the face was consistent with being the end result of a blow, which could have been a punch or a kick.

The court heard Mr Lee was likely to have been experiencing a “high level of intoxication” and may have been experiencing the effects of taking cocaine, which was found in his system.

The trial continues.