A pair of black Nike trainers took centre stage at the Michael Tierney Murder trial today.

They were produced by lawyers for William Fleming, one of the men accused of killing the Chatham groundworker in June.

The whereabouts of a pair of trainers – said to have been worn by Fleming when he kicked Mr Tierney - had been the subject of questions from both prosecution and defence lawyers throughout the trial.

Fleming produced a pair of Nike training shoes – wrapped in clear cellophane – which he claimed he had worn on remand.

The defendant, who denies murder, told the jury at Canterbury Crown Court that he had been given them along with his other clothes after being remanded to HMP Elmley and worn them for the past few months.

He was asked why he hadn’t produced them before and told the jury he had only just realised the “significance of them”.

Fleming, of White Road, Chatham, claimed they were the footwear he was wearing on the night Tierney died.

He told the jury how he had been with his partner, a friend and his three children when he decided to go to the One Stop Shop in Magpie Hall Road to buy alcohol.

After getting a bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced rum, Cactus Jack and cigarettes he headed back home.

“I did hear some commotion. People shouting as I walked along the road but I didn’t pay too much attention. I didn’t think it was a big thing," he added.

The prosecution has alleged his co-accused, cousin George French and another pal had been having an argument with neighbours.

French, 39, of Ansell Avenue has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 33-year-old dad of two but denies murder.

He was alleged to have broken a fence near Mr Tierney’s home in Glencoe Road and the two became embroiled in a fight in Haig Road, in which it is claimed he was hit with a pick-axe handle and stamped on.

Fleming told the jury that as he neared his home he could see “two men struggling with a pick-axe handle at the top of the hill".

“Then I realised that one of the men was my ‘Uncle’ George. He’s actually my cousin but I always call him uncle.

“I was called across the road by Uncle George and he was obviously in a struggle with the man on top of him.

“They were fighting for control of the pick-axe handle. I kicked Mr Tierney on the left shoulder. It wasn’t hard or serious to injure him. I just wanted to split them up.

“The first kick didn’t seem to do very much and they were still struggling over the pick axe handle so I kicked Mr Tierney again in the same area, “ he added.

He said Mr Tierney released his grip on the weapon and French hit him in the face with it in a “butting motion” before throwing away the handle.

“Mr Tierney was slumped down and that’s the last time I saw him. He was just lying down on his front.

“I then left and went to my home because I thought he was going to be alright," he added.

He claimed French was “extremely drunk” and slurring his words as his partner asked Fleming what had happened.

He added that another member of the family arrived later saying “someone had been run over with a car”.

Fleming added: “By then I could see police lights and the road had been cordoned off and I put two and two together and made four and realised it was bad."

The jury heard how the axe handle had been retrieved and later bleached before being hidden underneath a cot at the flat.

Items of clothing worn by French had also been washed, who Fleming claimed had fallen asleep on a chair before later leaving to go to a holiday home.

Fleming said that he had put his black trainers into a cupboard after arriving back at the flat – and hours later took his children to school, wearing a pair of Adidas trainers.

“I was scared. It was all getting a bit serious, “ he added.

He said he later went to the police station and was remanded in custody after being charged.

His clothes were taken away for forensic examination and he was made to wear plimsolls until he arrived at prison.

Fleming said clothes were then left for him and he wore the black Nike trainers while on remand.

The trial continues.