4:03pm Tuesday 26th January 2010
By Dan Keel
THE JURY in the trial of a Polish man accused of murdering pensioner Edward Highwood has retired to consider its verdict.
Homeless Marcin Orlowski, aged 20, denies murdering the 79-year-old at the pensioner's home in Hollymount Close, Blackheath, on July 17 last year.
The Pole says he was provoked into hitting him with a glass vase because of the gay pensioner's unwanted sexual advances.
Orlowski, who has been remanded in custody, also claims his responsibility for the killing was “substantially impaired” by his chronic alcoholism.
Earlier today defence lawyer Nigel Lithman said Orlowski was "guilty of manslaughter and nothing more".
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