A JURY in the trial of a man accused of murdering his neighbour has retired to consider its verdict.

Bristol Crown Court has heard claims that Martin Hill kicked and punched Paul Birch at the bedsit flats where both men lived in Alfred Street, Weston-super-Mare.

The jury has heard claims that the men rowed over a £20 bike and Hill was heard saying that he was going to "sort out" Mr Birch and "teach him a lesson".

He is then accused of punching Mr Birch to the floor of the entrance to the bedsits and stamping on his head so that it "bounced". Hill, 37, denies murdering Mr Birch in June last year.

He has told jurors he acted in self-defence after his neighbour burst into the building "like a raging bull", after threatening to snap his jaw.

Hill said he opened the door to Mr Birch, who came in and went to strike him, and he floored him with a single blow before kicking out with his feet and catching Mr Birch's head once with his right foot. He said the incident had followed a stream of abusive phone calls in which Mr Birch had threatened him.

The court has heard that alcoholic Mr Birch, who had jaundice, a liver condition and Hepatitis C, initially refused hospital treatment but when his condition deteriorated the next day he was taken to Frenchay Hospital, where he had an operation but died two days after admission.

He had suffered a fractured skull and blood clot on the brain.

The court has heard one witness, Lloyd Cope, tried to stop Hill from kicking Mr Birch, telling him: "I'm doing you a favour, Martin. I'm stopping you from killing him."

The case continues.