The fifth day of the Paul Groves' murder trial into the death of self-style "gangster" Billy-Boy Martindale has been spent in legal argument.
The jury at Chelmsford Crown Court was sent home at lunchtime today and will return on Tuesday when they will hear closing speeches from both prosecutor Simon Spence QC and defence barrister Graham Trembath QC.
Those will be followed by the summing up of Mr Justice Sweeney after which they will retire to consider their verdict.
Groves, 34, of Queensway, Ongar, denies murdering William Martindale, 39, at his smallholding Meadow View Farm, Mill Lane, High Ongar, on 7 September last year.
The prosecution alleges that Groves and Mr Martindale, who lived in Cripsey Avenue, Chipping Ongar, fell out over a drug dispute. It's alleged that Groves punched Mr Martindale unconscious and then hit him twice on his head with a pick-axe handle, causing fatal head injuries.
Groves also denies inflicting grievous bodily harm to Mr Martindale's friend Paul Meeking, 54, of Barking, with intent.
He has claimed I court that he thought Mr Martindale was armed with a shotgun or machete and was lunging towards him.
He told the jury he panicked and struck him with the pick-axe handle and left, believing Mr Martindale was unconscious.
The trial continues.
