LAWYERS in a murder trial gave their closing speeches to jurors yesterday.

Christopher Weldon, 28, is accused of pushing 18-year-old John Chipp to his death from the Queen Alexander Bridge, in Sunderland, in the early hours of March 19.

Prosecutors claim Mr Weldon deliberately pushed or manhandled the student over the railing and more than 80ft to his death.

But Mr Weldon told jurors that the teenager attacked him while he was on the bridge contemplating suicide following a row with his wife.

Mr Weldon said that after he attacked him, Mr Chipp somehow went over the railings - but said it had nothing to do with him and must have been an accident.

Paul Sloan, prosecuting, told jurors yesterday: "If you are sure that the defendant deliberately pushed or manhandled John Chipp over the railings, I believe you will have little difficulty in concluding that it was an unlawful act.

"The defence case is that the defendant did nothing at all to cause John Chipp to go over the railings, and that what happened was the result of an accident, pure and simple, and had nothing whatsoever to do with Christopher Weldon."

Defence barrister Alistair McDonald QC told jurors that they had to be absolutely sure of Mr Weldon's guilt, otherwise he must be found not guilty.

Judge David Hodson is expected to sum up the case on Monday and jurors will then retire to consider their verdict.

The case continues.