The last moments of a man killed with a single punch were described to a manslaughter jury today.

The final minutes before Steve Holton's death were witnessed by Stacy Radford – a friend of the man accused of killing him in August last year.

Ms Radford told Canterbury Crown Court how Gerald Philpott, 28, had been out with friends in Folkestone.

One of the group had been asked to leave a club after a drunken altercation with a woman who had chatted to her boyfriend.

Philpott, who later explained how he cried when he heard of Holton's death, also left with the group to find the friend standing next to railings in Folkestone Harbour.

Ms Radford said 54-year-old Mr Holton, from Dover, was talking to the woman and later asked if her friend was “OK”?

“I told him she will be OK now that we are here. That was pretty much what was said and (my friend) was still crying.”

She told the jury that Mr Holton then walked away, adding: "I heard a commotion behind me and I heard someone say in a loud voice: “I’m a traveller. I’m a traveller” and I turned around.

“It was shouted loudly and wasn’t said in a very nice voice.”

"It knocked him off his feet and he then hit the floor with the back of his head..." - witness Stacy Radford

Ms Radford claimed that Mr Holton then turned and walked towards Philpott “with his hands up but not clenched.”

She then told how Philpott threw a punch hitting Mr Radford in the right cheek.

“It knocked him off his feet and he then hit the floor with the back of his head. Gerald then panicked and I panicked.

“I just rushed off because it was horrific and I didn’t want to stay around.”

As they walked away, she claimed the two spoke about the incident “because we didn’t think it was going to result in a death. It was just a fight."

Philpott of Dallas Brett Crescent, Folkestone, has denied manslaughter.

He later told police he struck the blow after Mr Radford had told him to stop singing.

But Ms Radford told the court she hadn’t heard anyone singing.

Later, Philpott told the jury how he wept after hearing of the death.

“I felt scared and threw a punch..." - Gerald Philpott

The 29-year-old had been celebrating his son’s birthday in August last year before joining friends at a variety of pubs and clubs in the town downing vodka and lemonades.

Philpott, who denied manslaughter, said: “I was drunk but not stumbling. I could hold a conversation. I was in a happy mood.”

But in the early hours of the morning he came across Steve Hilton, from Dover and the two clashed.

“I was singing a Jason Derulo song and was told to shut up. The man sounded as if he was pee-ed off. I told him to leave it out as I was having a good night.”

Philpott alleged Mr Holton, 54, told him: “Who are you talking to? I’m a traveller” and the two clashed.

He claimed Mr Hilton “took one step towards me, then another step and was in front of me.

“I took half a step back and said that I didn’t want trouble. He walked towards me and looked angry. He was just edging forward.

“I felt scared and threw a punch," added the 5ft 7 in 12 stone Philpott.

After the incident he claimed he panicked and ran away, telling the jury: “I was drunk. It was dark. I was scared.”

Philpott said that he looked around and saw Mr Holton on the floor, “I swear I saw his arm move.”

He learnt of the death hours later, telling the jury: “I cried. I went to visit my sister and told her what had happened. I was pretty hysterical.”

After going to a police station he answered police questions but refused to take part in a second interview.

“I was physically and emotionally drained. I was broken, “ he added.

The trial continues.