A pensioner was beaten to death by his neighbour in central London following a heated dispute over shutting a gate, a court has heard.
James O'Neill, 74, died from his injuries just over a fortnight after allegedly being punched and kicked by 57-year-old Trevor Gocan.
The horrific incident occurred on October 6 last year at the entrance to the housing estate where both men lived in Covent Garden.
Southwark Crown Court heard that both men lived in flats in Odhams Walk, a small estate in central London - although they didn't know each other.
The victim was 'punched so hard to the face that a tooth fell out', a court heard
Metropolitan Police
Prosecutor Lisa Wilding KC told the court: "Trevor Gocan and Mr O'Neill encountered each other at the entrance gate to the estate. An argument started, probably about shutting the gate, and it descended to violence."
The gate to the housing estate is normally open Monday to Friday but closed on Sundays, which is when the incident took place.
Wilding told jurors that O'Neill was "punched so hard to the face that a tooth fell out, and Gocan then kicked him in the torso".
The prosecutor said Gocan is accused of attacking O'Neill and then walking away as the pensioner lay wounded on the ground.
The court heard the incident was not caught on camera, but a witness says he did not see O'Neill touch Gocan before the attack.
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Mohammed Rahman, a security guard at the Zara store opposite, saw Gocan pointing his finger at O'Neill and "standing as if ready for a fight" before punching him in the face.
Rahman described the punch as "five-six out of 10" in force and saw "something drop from Jim O'Neill's mouth".
He then observed Gocan place his sandwich on the ground and kick O'Neill with "a lot of force" that he rated "seven-eight out of 10".
According to Wilding, O'Neill remained on his feet for "two-three seconds before he fell to the floor and landed on his side".
Gocan has pleaded not guilty at Southwark Crown Court
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Adding that Gocan's response to the argument was "completely unnecessary, over-the-top, and unjustified", the prosecutor told jurors: "Jim O'Neill put up no physical fight - he did not touch the defendant."
"Whatever the reason, in the blows he delivered, and kick or kicks he delivered, that force was excessive and unlawful," Wilding declared.
The court heard that Gocan does not dispute causing the injuries but claimed that he was acting in lawful self-defence.
He also denies intending to cause serious harm to O'Neill and pleaded not guilty to murder.
The trial at Southwark Crown Court continues.
