Lincoln Crown Court jury told ‘put emotion aside’ as it considers whether Stamford man Kyle Marshall was murdered in Bourne park

A jury in the trial of two people who deny murdering Kyle Marshall have been asked to put any emotions aside in considering their verdicts.

Reece Bruns, 20, is alleged to have stabbed Mr Marshall with a machete during a confrontation between the two men in Wellhead Park, Bourne, on the night of June 26.

The prosecution claim Bruns carried out the stabbing after being given the machete by a 16-year-old youth who had gone to fetch the weapon.

Judge Simon Hirst, the trial judge, today (Wednesday, March 5) told jurors they had now heard all the evidence in the case and directed them on the law they will have to apply in reaching their verdicts.

"You are responsible for weighing up the evidence and deciding the facts of the case," Judge Hirst told the jury.

"This case has involved many deeply distressing matters, not least of which is the death of Kyle Marshall."

But Judge Hirst told jurors they must put any emotion or sympathies aside and decide the case on the evidence they have heard.

It is not disputed that there was a history of animosity between the two defendants and Mr Marshall, and that Mr Marshall had gone to the park to sort things out, Judge Hirst explained.

Judge Hirst told jurors "you may well feel" Mr Marshall was intent on violence.

The jury heard it was also not disputed that Mr Marshall died from a stab wound to the heart.

Judge Hirst reminded jurors that Bruns denied deliberately stabbing Mr Marshall and said the fatal injury was an unintended consequence as the two men scuffled.

Bruns insisted he was also acting in self defence as he believed Mr Marshall had a knife, and had no intention to murder Mr Marshall or cause him really serious harm.

Judge Hirst said it was the youth's case that he only fetched the machete to deter Kyle Marshall and never intended for it to be used in unlawful violence.

Bruns, 20, of St Paul's Gardens, Bourne, and the youth, now 17, both deny the murder of Mr Marshall and a second charge of possessing a bladed article in public.

The trial continues.