Youth 'kicked student into river'

Robert Gill's body was discovered by a team of police divers

A 19-year-old accused of murdering a student has admitted kicking him into a river but denies meaning to kill him.

Thomas Luddington, 18, of Dunham Close, Bedford, admits blame for Robert Gill, 17, falling into the Great Ouse river but he thought he would be "alright".

Robert died after Mr Luddington and two other youths allegedly attacked him on a night out last December.

Mr Luddington denies murder, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, robbery and false imprisonment.

Co-defendants Sean Downes, 18, of Acacia Road, Bedford, and a 16-year-old who cannot be named, deny murder, robbery and false imprisonment.

The trial has heard the three robbed Robert of his wallet and mobile phone, before throwing him into the Great Ouse river in Bedford in the early hours of December 27.

'Panicked and left'

But Mr Luddington told the court his kick sent the engineering student into the river.

He said: "Sean had him by the lapels. Robert was facing him and he was pushing him backwards over the edge of the bridge.

"I saw him trying to grab Sean. I went on to the bridge and I kicked his legs and that's what caused him to go over.

"I saw him go under on the other side of the bridge and come back up and take a breath. I saw him take a breath and start to swim so I left. I panicked and left."

The case continues.