A man killed his cousin by throwing a concrete block at him following a family party, a court heard.

Peter Attwell is accused of murdering Paul Coleman, of Royston Avenue, Wallington, with the breeze block after a party at Mr Coleman’s father’s house in St Andrews Road, Coulsdon, in the early hours of August 14 last year.

At the Old Bailey on Monday, January 30, prosecutor Jeremy Donne QC told the jury heard how Mr Attwell, 32, picked up the slab and ran “nearly the length of a football pitch” before throwing it at Mr Coleman.

Despite a pathologist report concluding it more likely Mr Coleman died after hitting his head on the road rather than being struck by the slab, Mr Donne said the defendant had intended to kill his cousin.

He said: “The defendant picked up the concrete brick and shrugged off his brother’s attempts to stop him.

“He then ran at least 80m before throwing the brick when he was so close to the victim that everyone thought he had hit the victim on the head.

“You have to be sure that when he threw the brick he intended to cause really serious injury.

“What other intent could there have been?

“If he had that intent and the man died as a result then that is murder.”

The court heard how the defendant was at the family party with his sister Simone and her boyfriend Jeff, while the victim was there with his brothers Bobby and James Game.

Taking the witness stand, Miss Coleman described how Mr Coleman was very drunk that night.

Following a disagreement, Jeff hit Bobby in the face during the party which had led to angry words exchanged.

The feud continued when the two groups left the party.

She said: “Paul was staggering around.

“Bobby came running up to Paul and shouted: ‘I’m going to f*cking do you’.

“I said: ‘Leave him alone, he’s in no fit state to fight’.

“Peter then came round the back of Bobby. He had a concrete block and raised it above his head.

“He lifted it down onto my brother’s head. Paul fell to the floor and the three brothers ran off.”

Speaking for the defence, Andrew Campbell-Tiech QC suggested Miss Coleman’s boyfriend had called Mr Attwell and his brothers “pikeys”, which had led to the spat.

He said the victim, his sister and her boyfriend followed the three brothers as they left the party to find a taxi.

Mr Cambell-Tiech said Mr Coleman was so drunk he fell over, hitting his head on the pavement and causing his death.

Attwell, of Bermondsey, south London, admits manslaughter but denies murder.

The trial continues.