Overview

• James O'Neill, 74, died two weeks after suffering a brain bleed and fractured ribs during an altercation with neighbor Trevor Gocan on October 6, 2024.
• Prosecutors allege Gocan punched and kicked O’Neill following an argument over shutting a communal estate gate at Odhams Walk in Covent Garden.
• CCTV footage presented in court shows Gocan purchasing a coffee and sandwich shortly before the alleged attack.
• Forensic pathologist Dr. Olaf Biedrzycki testified that O’Neill’s head injuries were consistent with an accelerated fall, likely caused by striking the ground.
• The trial at Southwark Crown Court continues, with closing arguments expected later this week and a verdict anticipated by the end of next week.