Man 'responsible' for boy's death

Ricky Butler, shown with his girlfriend Jade Pemberton, died in hospital

A 19-year-old youth has told a court he accepted he was responsible for the death of a 15-year-old boy whose skull was fractured by a martial arts weapon.

But Richard Martin of Heath Way, Horsham, West Sussex, told the jury at Lewes Crown Court he did not intend to kill him.

Ricky Butler, from Roffey, Horsham, died in hospital after he was hit with a nunchaku.

Mr Martin denies murder and wounding with intent.

Giving evidence, Mr Martin said he left the Halloween party on 3 November after Ricky Butler's brother, Steven, who rented the flat, asked him to go.

Row started

He said he then went to his home in Heath Way.

The court had been told earlier that a row broke out between Ricky and Mr Martin because he had gatecrashed the party.

The prosecution claims he returned shortly afterwards armed with a nunchaku, a martial arts weapon which can be made of two wooden sticks joined by a chain or rope, and attacked Ricky.

When David Fisher, defending, asked Mr Martin if he intended to seriously harm or kill Ricky Butler he replied: "No."

Mr Martin was then asked if he accepted he was responsible for Ricky's death, to which he said: "I accept I was."

Following the attack, Ricky was able to stagger back inside the flat and talk to his brother, but he soon lapsed into unconsciousness, from which he never recovered.

He was taken to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, then transferred to St George's Hospital in Tooting, south west London, where he died from bleeding to the skull later that day.

The trial continues.