Wandsworth: A drunk Wandsworth Prison officer kicked a gay man's head "like a football" before strangling him to death, the Old Bailey has heard.

Wayne Kavanagh, 28, killed Keith Smith, 58, on the evening of December 21 last year, after he (Kavanagh) stopped to urinate on a first-floor staircase at Heathfield Court, Heathfield Road, Wandsworth.

The court heard Kavanagh, who admits manslaughter but denies murder, had been drinking in the County Arms in nearby Alma Terrace before leaving with two fellow prison officers at around 8.15pm.

After becoming separated from his friends he claims he stopped to relieve himself on the stairwell and was aware of the 6ft figure of Smith who he didn't know trying to touch his testicles.

Kavanagh says he beat Smith and left him "mumbling" and slumped against a wall, returning to the pub to carry on drinking before getting a cab to his home in Upper Norwood at 10.50pm.

He also says he has no recollection of his hands on Smith's throat stating: "I was not angry enough to want to kill him."

Prosecuting, Sir Allan Green QC said: "The jury has to ask itself whether an ordinary, sober man might have been provoked by whatever Mr Smith did, that he might have reacted in the same way and killed the man."

Mr Guy Boney QC, defending, claimed Kavanagh's actions were brought on by a sudden loss of self-control resulting in a frenzied attack.

July 11, 2002 13:00