A MAN involved in a noise row which ended with his neighbour dying has told a court he had nothing to do with his death.

Ronald Mayne was rushed to hospital with a head injury after a late night row with next door neighbour Garry Poore on February 26 this year.

The 68-year-old died a week later after his family were told doctors could do nothing to save him.

Poore, 75, told a jury he “went nuts” and ended up arguing with Mr Mayne over swearing and noise from his television.

The trial has heard both men lived next door to each other on the Templeton caravan park in Bakers Lane, West Hanningfield, and that on the evening of the incident both men had been drinking, but not together.

Police attended the park twice and on the first occasion Mr Mayne agreed to turn the television down.

Before the second time, Poore told the jury he was “fed up” with the noise coming from Mr Mayne’s caravan.

He said: “I went into my spare room and got a hammer as I wanted to protect myself in case there was trouble.”

He told the jury how he tapped the side of Mr Mayne’s caravan with the hammer and he came out and swore at him.

Poore said he told Mr Mayne to be quiet as he wanted to get some sleep, but Mr Mayne kicked him on the hand and he fell down.

Poore, who denies manslaughter, said: “He reached forward and his foot got caught in the door frame and he’s gone flying.”

The jury is expected to return their verdict this week.

See www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk for the verdict.