Jury out in trial of man accused of killing his partner's brother in South Shields
by Rob Kennedy · ChronicleLiveA jury in the trial of a man who allegedly killed his partner's brother after he asked him to 'leave her alone' following an assault has retired to consider its verdict.
Pearse Kavanagh is standing trial accused of the manslaughter of Philip McQueeney, 40, which he denies. Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court heard Kavanagh was socialising with his then-partner, Sarah McQueeney, and Philip at her home on Rowan Drive in South Shields in July 2022.
The court was told the trio were drinking vodka and the atmosphere was pleasant as they watched movies when the mood changed and he assaulted Miss McQueeney. Philip McQueeney is then said to have involved himself telling Kavanagh, of Coldwell Terrace, Gateshead, to "leave his sister alone." The court heard Kavanagh then allegedly focused his aggression on Philip.
Some 1.5 litres of blood leaked into Philip's abdomen which was the result of a laceration to the small intestine. The injury was the result of "blunt force impact to the abdominal region" that was most likely caused by a kick, the court heard.
Kavanagh denies manslaughter.
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