A MAN who has been charged with murder after beating a man with a baseball bat in Southwick almost 13 years ago appeared in court today.

Neil Sutherland, 34, of Kyte Way, Trowbridge pleaded not guilty after the death of Paul Mills in 2017, who was left with life changing head injuries and severe epilepsy after being hit repeatedly following a disagreement over selling the bat.

Mr Mills was in a coma after the attack, suffered a fractured skull, bruising on the brain, a fractured eye socket and lost the ability to speak for two weeks.

Sutherland was convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent at the time and served a jail sentence before being released in 2010.

Seven years later Mr Mills was found dead on his bathroom floor by emergency services on March 2 2017, after suffering from an epileptic fit.

Today, Salisbury Crown Court heard from the prosecution how these injuries played a substantial part in his death after suffering regular seizures since the assault in July 2006 despite being on medication.

Defence lawyers have stated the possibility of Sutherland acting in self defence must be considered, after he was bullied and intimidated by Mr Mills on previous occasions.

The trial continues over the next two to three weeks. See full report in Wiltshire Times.