A MURDER trial jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict today when the judge in the case concludes his summing- up.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton will send out the panel of seven women and five men after delivering his speech on the evidence.

Christopher Morgan, 24, denies murdering Jonathan Gilbert during an argument at the victim’s home in Crook, County Durham.

The unemployed former factory worker has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 43-year-old father-of-two in April, but denies murder.

The prosecution alleges that his sustained punching, kicking and stamping attack was certain to have caused serious harm if not death.

The victim – known as Gilly – died in hospital from brainbleed injuries ten days after being beaten unconscious in his lounge.

A dispute between the two men arose a week before the attack when Mr Gilbert is said to have called Morgan “a halfbreed”.

Morgan, of Thornfield Road, Consett, insisted during his evidence this week that he did not intend to cause his victim any harm.

He told the jury: “I feel bad, like, because he was a good friend of mine. I don’t know what to say, really, do you know what I mean?”.