Alleged murder took place on land that feuding Long Bennington brothers contested, Lincoln Crown Court hears

Catch up on the trial by reading yesterday's report here.

Stuart snr, 63, giving evidence, said there were two reasons why he and his brother Steven Gray were involved in a family feud.

"One, was over my property and two, he was trying to get off with my wife," he said.

"I bought the property off him over 30 years ago and paid him for it but never changed the deed work as we were brothers and didn't see a problem.

"When I asked years later to get the place changed over my name, he went off it. The Fairfield property was given to my three sisters and he [Steven] took it off of them.

"I used to work long hours and my wife would say he had been round here peeping about, looking through the window."

The jury was shown a number of Gray family pictures, including those picturing Steven.

Stuart snr said he did not know why Steven had denied being of Romany Gypsy heritage in his evidence.

"My father was a travelling showman," he told the jury. "I was born in a wagon on the side of the road.

"It surprised me Steven said he was not a Romany Traveller — he should be proud, it's been our heritage forever."

Stuart snr said Hardy only went over to Steven's property that day to rod the septic tank, and that he could have done so on his own property next door had Steven not built a bungalow in the way.

CCTV shown to the court showed Steven and Dean warning Hardy off the property with some kind of silver rod, before Hardy and Stuart snr confronted Dean later on.

"Terence was upset and his hand was all swollen [from being hit]," said Stuart snr. "I said 'we'll go around and try and pacify this as we don't need this sh*t'.

"I thought we could talk about it because I just don't need it, I'm not in the best of health you know what I mean."

The court had already heard that Dean and Hardy had fought and that Dean had been unconscious having hit his head when knocked to the ground. Later, he drove himself to hospital where his condition rapidly deteriorated.

Stuart snr denied the intention to use a drain rod in his hand during the fight and having a claw hammer, and said Steven made a death threat.

"He said 'in two weeks you will be dead and your whole place will be gone fat man'," said Stuart snr.

Asked if there was intent to cause serious harm, he said: "Never in a million years, I'm deeply hurt about it honestly — he was a nice lad. He was my nephew. It was a tragic, tragic accident and I'm deeply, deeply sorry."

The prosecution suggested Stuart snr went to fight and back Hardy as a 'second'.

He replied: "How am I going to do that? At the time I weighed between 35 and 40 stone. They are two younger men."

He said all he had was a draining rod, which he uses as a walking stick.

He confirmed he had lied to police in his first interview about his son Stuart jnr being there because he didn't to get him involved. Stuart jnr's whereabouts are currently unknown and Stuart snr told the jury: "I think my son is hiding away because Steven has put a bond on his head."

Hardy had three character references from people he had worked for or with in the past — all of whom said they had known Hardy for years, was reliable and trustworthy, and that they had never been concerned by his behaviour.

Two officers at HMP Lincoln, where Hardy and Stuart snr have been remanded since the incident, also gave character references.

Officer Garnet wrote: "He is a prisoner who engages with staff and prisoners in a positive manner. He has become a wing cleaner and worked exceptionally hard since — always going above and beyond.

"We were hit by covid meaning the wing was stretched at times, and he always took on any challenges without even a moan. He has been a model prisoner, had no adjudications and is an enhanced prisoner."

Officer Tiger said Hardy was generous and patient with fellow prisoners, who hold him in high regard.

The trial continues...