A man who killed his own cousin by hurling a breeze block at him walked into a police station and confessed the next morning, a court heard.

Peter Attwell, of Bermondsey, a former labourer, admitted to police on the day of the alleged murder how he had thrown "a nine inch by four inch" concrete brick like a "football throw in" at his cousin Paul Coleman, from Wallington, after a row at his uncle's house in Coulsdon, the Old Bailey heard yesterday.

Attwell, 32, owned up to throwing the 20 kg building block at 5 ft 3in Mr Coleman from five metres away after an alcohol-fuelled fight outside a family party last summer.

Attwell admits manslaughter but denies murdering Mr Coleman.

The jury heard how Mr Coleman, 35, had been 2.5 times over the legal driving limit at his sisters birthday party on August 14 when he fell backwards fracturing his skull on the concrete.

Pathologist Dr Fagan Earl, told the Old Bailey yesterday (February 2) he had not found any dust on the victims head which would indicate being hit by a breeze block, nor would he expect the injuries which killed Mr Coleman to have been caused by one.

In cross examination from defence Andrew Campbell-Tiech QC, Dr Fagan Earl said he "could see no pathological evidence that supported (Mr Coleman) being hit with a breeze block", but admitted a "glancing blow" with it could have destabilised the intoxicated victim.

Father-of-two Attwell, suggested to police at Lewisham Police Station on the day of the alleged murder "he could barely lift" the building block.

But the defendant confessed to have "given it some welly" when the former labourer threw what he initially called "a blue thing" at his cousin.

Prosecutor Jeremy Donne QC read to the court Attwell's police interview in which he confessed to throwing the block at cousins Paul and Simone Coleman, and Miss Coleman's boyfriend Jeff Whitfield.

The jury heard how Mr Whitfield and Mr Coleman had been fighting in the street with Attwell and his brothers Bobby and James.

Miss Coleman told the court on Monday, January 30, how the defendant had "lifted it (the breeze block) down" onto her brother's head, he had fallen to the ground and the three brothers had ran off.

The trial continues.