Man killed after 'revenge attack'

A man died three days after he was attacked by a man and a boy as he tried to break up a fight in a Bedfordshire town, Luton Crown Court has heard.

Neil Abrams, 43, from Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, suffered serious head injuries in the attack last August.

The fight in Leighton Buzzard involved a group of Mr Abrams' friends and the father of one of the defendants.

Luke Elliott, 20, from Thrift Road, Heath and Reach, Bedfordshire, and a 16-year-old youth both deny murder.

Mr Elliott also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Stamped on head

The youth pleaded guilty to this alternative charge but the plea was not accepted by the Crown.

The court was told they kicked and punched Mr Abrams as "revenge" after Mr Elliott's father, Simon Elliott, was injured in the fight.

Stuart Trimmer QC, prosecuting, said the fight took place outside Pizza Plus in the town, during which Simon Elliott ended up on ground and may have been knocked out.

The court was told the accused youth, who was 15 at the time, ran to a nearby pub to get Luke Elliott.

The pair then ran back to the scene by which time the fight had finished.

Mr Trimmer said they then carried out an unprovoked attack on Mr Abrams during which he fell to the ground and hit the back of his head.

"Luke Elliott continued to attack with stamps or kicks to his head while he lay on his back unconscious," the prosecution added.

The trial continues.