Manslaughter accused was punched first, court told

A man accused of beating another man who died six weeks later following health complications claims he was attacked first, a court has heard.

Lucian Sorenau, 32, denies attacking Anthony Barrigan in Windsor Street, Brighton, in June 2022.

Mr Barrigan, 44, died unexpectedly weeks later after a blood clot from his injured ankle travelled and blocked an artery in his lung.

On Thursday, Lewes Crown Court heard that Mr Sorenau told Sussex Police he acted in self-defence after refusing to give Mr Barrigan's girlfriend, Sarah Chollerton, a lighter for her cigarette.

Mr Sorenau, who has declined to give evidence during the trial, initially refused to answer questions when he was arrested following the incident on 18 June 2022, but was later interviewed again.

He told police: "I started defending myself.

"I see everyone thinks me the guilty person. I was asked for a lighter, I said, 'no', and I got punched."

He claimed Ms Chollerton threw the first punch, adding he did not know how Mr Barrigan injured his leg.

"I'm sorry for what happened, but the woman was the start, the cause of everything," he told police.

Ms Chollerton told the jury the man who attacked them jumped on Mr Barrigan's ankle.

In his witness statement prior to his death, Mr Barrigan said he had tried to calm the situation before being attacked.

"He immediately punched me," he said. "I couldn't defend myself from his barrage of punches."

The jury were also told that there was no dispute over the reason for Mr Barrigan's death.

Ben Irwin, for the Crown, told the court: "The cause of death was pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.

"His death was caused by his fractured ankle."

Mr Sorenau denies manslaughter, actual bodily harm and affray.

The trial continues.

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