A JURY has been told to consider whether a single punch which killed a young man outside Southampton's Leisureworld complex was lawful.

Jurors trying carpenter Oliver Cozens were urged to consider whether or not he was acting in self-defence when he threw the fatal blow which killed Andrew Heath.

The 20-year-old, who denies manslaughter, broke down in tears at Winchester Crown Court earlier this week and said: "It is just tragic. I didn't mean anyone to die."

But the prosecution says Cozens retaliated after seeing his girlfriend hit by Mr Heath during a row in a taxi queue. Yesterday Mr Justice Silber began summing up, urging jurors to focus on the fatal punch at the centre of the case.

"You must focus on the punch to see if he - Cozens - was acting in self-defence when he threw it. Did Oliver Cozens honestly believe it was necessary to defend himself when he threw the fatal punch? Your task is to decide whether the use of that punch was reasonable."

Bachelor Mr Heath, 28, of Lordshill, suffered a fractured skull after being punched by Cozens, causing him to hit his head on the pavement.

He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital two days later. Cozens, of Meredith Towers, Tunstall Road, Thornhill, who "ran scared" after the punch but was arrested hours later, has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr Heath.

Proceeding.