Richard Martin, 19, of Heath Way, Horsham, denies murdering Ricky Butler and wounding another teenager with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

In his closing address to the jury today, Martin's barrister David Fisher QC told the jury it is 'inevitable' that his client will be convicted of manslaughter, but asked them to clear him on the murder charge.

"Although you may be suspicious, there's insufficient evidence of that intent to cause really serious injury, and therefore you can find him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter," he said.

He said the same applies to the charge of wounding with intent, and asked the jury to convict his client only on the lesser charge of wounding.

Previously, prosecutor Charles Miskin QC had accused Martin of distorting the events of that evening.

"His account of that assault has been watered down so far that it's almost worthless," he said.

"This was a very deliberate, very unpleasant attack, a planned attack by a young man with a weapon, who gave his victims no chance whatsoever."

Martin denies murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The jury are due to retire to consider their verdicts tomorrow (Friday August 29).

Regular trial updates will appear on this website.

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