THREE men involved in a fight which ended in tragedy were all good friends.

Violence erupted outside the Bonnie Lasses pub in Hindley, Manchester Crown Court was told.

Prosecution witness Lee Webb said Paul Akister, aged 30, was very angry after he was "glassed" and armed himself with a glass in Market Street, Hindley.

He told the jury: "It was mad outside. We were all friends, good mates. Everyone was running around when the three of them were fighting. It was absolute chaos with lots of people there."

Brothers Andrew Pilkington, aged 20, and Darren Pilkington, aged 19, both of Bridgewater Street, Hindley, deny murdering Mr Akister last November.

The prosecution alleges Andrew Pilkington hit Mr Akister with a glass in a row in the pub.

They went out to fight and Andrew Pilkington joined in. When Mr Akister was unconscious on the ground, it is claimed the brothers kicked him.

Mr Akister died minutes later from the combined effect of "at least 10 areas of head injury".

Proceeding