A Melbourne man who was clutching beers when he stabbed a young tradie through the heart has admitted to a jury that he is guilty of manslaughter, but denies the more serious crime of murder.
Jack Ledlin appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria where he is on trial over the murder of Cameron Smith, who died on his way to watch the sunset at Seaford beach.
Mr Ledlin denies that he intended to kill or seriously injure Mr Smith.
In November 2020, the two men crossed paths on Station Street in Seaford when a fight broke out.
The pair did not know each other but the Supreme Court heard that Mr Smith's ex and Mr Ledlin's girlfriend previously had a run-in at a New Year's party.
Crown prosecutor Jane Warren told the jury that the dead man was attacked first.
"You'll hear from a witness … she was on Station Street with her brother," Ms Warren said.
"She then saw one of the other males who she describes as being chubby.
"The prosecution alleges that this was the accused.
"She saw him with what looked like a knife."
Defence says accused 'standing back' during altercation
Graphic phone footage was today played to the jury, showing Mr Smith lying on the footpath and someone screaming while passers-by rushed to his aid.
The jury was also shown a freeze-frame of Mr Ledlin, with what both sides described as a bladed object in his hand.
"The prosecution alleges that he struck Cameron to the chest," Ms Warren said.
"It's in that moment that we allege that he stabbed him."
The Supreme Court heard that after Mr Smith collapsed, Mr Ledlin's friends kicked the dying man in the head before fleeing.
But Michael McGrath, who is defending Mr Ledlin, said that his client was not guilty of murder.
"He accepts responsibility for the tragic death of Cameron Smith.
"He has, through his plea of manslaughter, admitted to you that what he did was dangerous and unlawful, and that his action caused the death.
"But because you cause the death of someone, doesn't mean you have murderous intent."
Mr McGrath said that his client was "standing back" when a fight broke out between Mr Smith and his friend.
"Mr Ledlin was not involved in this altercation, he was standing back," he said.
He told the jury that his client only became involved after Mr Smith knocked his friend to the ground.
"It was only coming to the aid of his friend that Mr Ledlin got involved," he said.
"He made no threats towards Mr Smith.
"He didn't intend to strike him to cause him really serious injury."
Mr McGrath also told the jury that his client was clutching a number of beers during the deadly incident.
The trial continues.
