Prestwich man accused of manslaughter 'not the aggressor'

Brook Marshall-Bryne, 20, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week accused of manslaughter following the death of Piotr Ludwiczak.

Piotr, 35, suffered serious head injuries after an attack in Silver Street in the early hours of Saturday, July 8, 2023.

Marshall-Byrne is also accused of affray, and the assault of a 17-year-old boy whom he admits punching twice to the face and head.

Paul Treble, defending, told the court Marshall-Byrne had acted in self-defence in regard to all three of the charges, and added that the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was “intent on violence.”

READ MORE: Prestwich man accused of manslaughter 'was in danger', court hears

In his closing statement, he said: “[The teenager] was intending to have a fight.

“The defendant decided he was going to be attacked so he defended himself.”

The jury also heard that during a taxi ride to Ramsbottom, the teenager had shouted at the driver to turn the car around, saying: “I’ve never lost a fight, take me back, I’m going to kill him.”

Piotr Ludwiczak, who was “well-liked by everyone he met” died in hospital from serious head injuries (Image: GMP)

During the trial, the jury heard that after Marshall-Bryne punched the teenager, he had been grabbed in a “bear hug” by Mr Ludwiczak, in an apparent attempt to restrain him.

Marshall-Byrne then punched Mr Ludwiczak, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the pavement, causing fatal injuries.

Mr Treble told the court that while in this hug, Marshall-Byrne had then been punched by another man at the scene.

Mr Treble added: “Just think what was going on in his mind.

"He’d been punched by the big man. ‘Get away’, that was what was going on in his head.

“Throughout the event he wasn’t the aggressor; he was defending himself.”

Mr Treble added that while giving evidence, Marshall-Byrne had “made concessions” regarding his version of events.

READ MORE: Bury man devastated after van and work tools are stolen

“An honest person makes concessions,” he said. “They don’t lie they accept it.”

Referring to the charges, he concluded, “in all these cases he was defending himself.”

In his own closing statement, prosecutor Henry Blackshaw asked the jury to consider "crucial" CCTV evidence which he said “does not lie” and presents “a very clear record of what happened on that night.”

He said: “The CCTV gives a lie to what the defendant said, the prosecution says he was acting as the aggressor from start to finish, at no point was he under threat.”

He added that Mr Ludwiczak had been “caught in the crossfire” and was simply “seeking to protect” the teenager.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard that the teenager had provoked Marshall-Byrne, calling him “skinny” and telling him “I’m going to snap you like a twig.”

In interview, Marshall-Byrne had told police that after this, he had “just straight hit him.”

Mr Blackshaw said that Marshall-Byrne had “had lost his self-control and succumbed to the aggression and anger".

Following the conclusion of the evidence Judge Nicholas Arthur Dean told the jury to return on Tuesday, May 28, when they will be asked to retire to consider the evidence and reach a verdict.

The trial continues.