THE jury in a Supreme Court murder trial in Tamworth will continue deliberating on their verdict on Friday morning for a second day.
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Steven John Johnson is standing trial, accused of murdering 52-year-old Kenny Matthews in Tamworth in 2015.
The jury of seven men and five women have been deliberating since lunch time on Wednesday on the charge of murder, following a trial that has spanned six weeks and dozens of witnesses.
On Thursday afternoon, Justice Richard Button addressed the jury in the Tamworth courtroom after they presented a note on a legal issue, before they against retired to consider their verdicts.
Johnson has pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter, assault causing death while intoxicated and assault causing death of Mr Matthews.
The pair were allegedly involved in a punch-up about 7pm that spilled onto Goonoo Goonoo Rd after a drinking session in a Bilkurra St unit on Friday May 15, 2015.
The jury was told Mr Matthews died in Tamworth hospital the day after the fight as a result of internal bleeding into his abdominal cavity after small lacerations to his spleen had increased.
Crown prosecutor Lee Carr said the crown’s case against Johnson relies upon “an intention to inflict grievous bodily harm … really serious harm”. Defence barrister Chris Taylor said there was no proof of a specific punch or kick by the accused that caused the injuries to Mr Matthew’s spleen, which led to the internal bleeding, and ultimately his death.