A YOUTH accused of the manslaughter of Ian Baynham in Trafalgar Square during an alleged homophobic attack merely threw an "unlucky" punch, the Old Bailey heard today.

Mr Baynham, 62, of Beckenham, was attacked in the crowded square on September 25 last year while on a night out.

Joel Alexander, aged 19, of Thornton Heath, Rachel Burke, aged 18, formerly of Upper Norwood, and Ruby Thomas, aged 18, formerly of Crystal Palace, deny manslaughter and affray.

It is claimed Burke, who is also charged with causing actual bodily harm, swore and shouted abuse at Mr Baynham.

Thomas meanwhile is alleged to have shouted “batty men” at Mr Baynham and his friend as they walked past holding hands.

The court has heard that following a physical confrontation between Mr Baynham and Burke, Alexander intervened, felling the gay man with a single punch to the jaw.

Mr Baynham struck his head on the pavement and it is alleged that both women then kicked and stamped on him as he lay on the ground before fleeing the scene.

He died in hospital 18 days later.

In his closing speech today, Alexander's defence barrister Kerim Fuad told the jury that his client had only thrown one punch to get "the man off the girl".

He stressed Alexander, out that night celebrating his girlfriend's birthday, had not joined in with any more of the violence.

Mr Fuad said his client, a sports science student, believed he "had no choice" but to punch Mr Baynham, who he thought was hitting Thomas.

He told the jury: "Please focus on Joel's act - not the dreadful injury that followed later."

The barrister said Alexander's punch had been "unlucky", knocking Mr Baynham to the ground.

He said: "You know that he did not intend or wish that."

Mr Fuad went on: "Not in a month of Sundays would you expect that little boy to have knocked a grown man down."

The trial continues.