A WITNESS in a murder trial told a jury today how his friend Wesley Strawbridge instigated violence which ultimately led to his death.

Ben Gallagher, 21, told Newport crown court how he and his girlfriend were in Upper Dock Street to catch a taxi home after a night out in the city when a group, including two men now being tried for murder, began hurling abuse at him.

Mr Gallagher had allegedly thrown defendant Kyle Dolling, 20, out of a pub earlier that week while working there.

The court heard that Mr Strawbridge, an old friend of Mr Gallagher's, arrived as he was being verbally abused and headbutted co-defendant Christopher Wood, 18.

Wood, Dolling and their group left the area, only to be followed by Mr Strawbridge and Mr Gallagher, who said Dolling had picked up a stick and was banging it on the ground and shouting abuse at Mr Strawbridge.

When asked why he had followed the men, Mr Gallagher said: "I was sticking up for a mate, he was on his own."

Mr Gallagher added he had tried to persuade Mr Strawbridge not to follow the group, telling him to "leave it".

Mr Gallagher added that before they caught up with the group, he had turned around and headed back into town, while Mr Strawbridge continued on.

Mr Strawbridge was allegedly subjected to an attack outside the Sainsbury's store on Shaftesbury Street at around 4.30am that morning.

Dolling, of Welland Circle, and Wood, of Trent Road, both Bettws and who are both apprentice plumbers, deny the murder of Mr Strawbridge in Newport in the early hours of August 5 last year.

Proceeding.