A MAN who was charged with killing a workmate has spoken of the fatal moment and said: "It will be with me for the rest of my life."

Martin Bibby, 47, suffered a fractured skull when he banged his head on the kerb after being punched on the jaw at the end of a works' night out in Blackburn.

Ricki Hickmott, a colleague at Botanical Interiors, Philips Road, Whitebirk, was originally charged with manslaughter but the case was later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Yesterday, Blackburn coroner Michael Singleton ruled the single blow thrown by Mr Hickmott was in self defence after he had been grabbed by the throat by Mr Bibby. Today, Mr Bibby's widow, Gail, said she could not accept the verdict of accidental death and said: "I will be seeing my solicitor for legal advice. Whatever happens I am never going to get my husband back."

After the hearing, Mr Hickmott, 33, said the incident in the early hours of Sunday, September 28, has had a profound effect on his life.

"It is something that is there all the time, it just won't go away. I am so very, very sorry about what happened but I never intended it. We had been out together playing pool and having a laugh and there was no need for this to happen. It will be with me for the rest of my life."

Mr Hickmott, of Brookway, Blackburn, told the inquest that as he and Mr Bibby left Bar Ibiza there had been an argument over "something and nothing."

He said he told Mr Bibby, of Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen, "not to be soft" and that was when it "kicked off."

Another employee of Botanical Interiors, Michael Sherlock, told the inquest that a party of nine, including himself and his wife, had been out on a leaving party. He said they had met in the Postal Order pub in Darwen Street before drinking in several town centre pubs and bars.

Mr Sherlock said there had been no trouble between any members of the party and everyone had enjoyed the evening.

Towards the end of the night five people went home leaving Mr Sherlock and his wife, Shirley, Mr Bibby and Mr Hickmott. They left the Bar Ibiza shortly after 1am and Mrs Sherlock was using her mobile to call for a taxi.

Mr Sherlock said as they walked up the road Ricky and Martin seemed to be "messing about."

"I didn't pay much attention because there didn't seem to be anything nasty going on," said Mr Sherlock. "Next thing they were scuffling on the floor. When they got up Martin had Ricki by the throat and Ricki was trying to pull away. I remember him saying get off as he tried to pull away and then he punched out just once."

Mr Sherlock said Mr Bibby fell back and banged his head on the kerb but nobody realised how serious his injuries were.

Mr Singleton said the blow struck by Mr Hickmott had been reasonable in terms of acting in self defence.

"What he did not anticipate, and nor would it have been reasonable for him to do so, that Mr Bibby would fall backwards and strike his head in such a way that would prove fatal," said Mr Singleton.

He told Mrs Bibby, who described her husband as an easy going, happy, family man: "The events of that evening will last forever in your memory and, understandably, in the memory of Mr Hickmott. I know there are no words I can use to take away the pain."