THE jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a teenager accused of murdering a father-of-five.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has already admitted the manslaughter of Thomas Mallaby when he delivered a fatal blow to the 40-year-old during a drunken confrontation.

The pair squared up on the forecourt the Esso service station in Annfield Plain last September after Mr Mallaby threatened to ‘put him in the boot’ of his car, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Jurors heard how the teenager was 'bouncing on his toes like a boxer' before knocking the man to hte ground and kicking him up the backside before scrambling back to his feet.

Read more: Teenager admits delivering fatal blow to father-of-five hours after watching Anthony Joshua​

CCTV footage of the incident showed the teenager punch Mr Mallaby to the ground again but this time he suffered a fatal blow to he head when his skull crashed against the concrete.

The Northern Echo: The Esso service station at Annfield PlainThe Esso service station at Annfield Plain

Mr Mallaby died in hospital two days later without ever regaining consciousness.

The defendant, who was 15 at the time of the attack, denied that he had ever taken boxing lessons but accepted that the trouble flared just hours after he had watched Anthony Joshua lose his world title to Oleksandr Usyk.

The trial continues.

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