Two friends have denied murdering a stranger outside a nightclub on Lewisham High Street.
Taiwo Ekerin, 41, died in hospital six days after an incident described as “serious impromptu violence" outside the Alpha Lounge venue on May 24.
Chibueze Chukwurah, 34, and Maxwell Uguanya, 33, have denied Taiwo's murder as well as his manslaughter.
The co-defendants had met studying masters courses at the University of Aberdeen, the court heard.
Nigerian national Chukwurah, of Royston Road, Glasgow, went on to work two jobs including as an agency cleaner and has been living in the UK on a graduate visa, defence barrister James Manning said.
He travelled to London from Scotland, where he lives and has family, to visit Uguanya, of Enfield, the court heard.
The two men were in the same nightclub as the alleged victim “and his crew” but there was “no particular interaction” between the groups until they left the club at about 4am, the prosecution said.
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A dispute allegedly broke out and Chukwurah is accused of striking Mr Ekerin in the head with a punch, causing him to “fall back on the ground”.
“Indeed the defendant never got back up”, prosecutor Frederick Hookway said.
His co-defendant allegedly “then got on top of him” and dealt further blows.
Chukwurah also kicked him whilst he was on the ground, the prosecution claimed.
Mr Manning said “this offence was unplanned and impromptu” and there is no connection between the defendants and the alleged victim.
They are in custody and due to stand trial on February 1 next year.
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