A MAN accused of murdering a former Rossendale rugby player was seen "crying his eyes out" once news of the death became known, a court was told.

Matthew Bourne is alleged to have killed William Prosser, who lived in Newchurch between 1999-2000 and played for Rossendale's first and second rugby teams, in an alley after trouble started in a Colchester sandwich shop.

Bourne's friend Anthony Gross saw him kick victim William Prosser before they left the scene in Balkerne Passage.

Mr Gross told a Chelmsford Crown Court jury he thought Mr Prosser was not badly hurt and would get up and go home.

But the court has heard how 36-year-old Mr Prosser never regained consciousness and died in hospital.

When he found out what had happened the following day, Mr Gross said he went to see Bourne. "He was crying his eyes out sitting on the floor," Mr Gross said.

He also told the jury he had known Bourne for 10 years and had never known him to lose his temper or act in a violent way.

Mr Gross was giving evidence on the second day of Bourne's trial on a murder charge.

Bourne, from Point Clear Road, St Osyth, is accused of killing Mr Prosser on April 9 last year. He denies the charge.

The trial has heard Mr Prosser was visiting a Royal Navy friend in Colchester at the time of his death.

They had both been drinking and at one point, became seperated and the friend went home.

Mr Prosser, from Lee Cross, Diggle, near Oldham in Lancashire, ended up in the Subway sandwich shop in the High Street at around midnight.

Bourne was in the shop with some friends at the time and Mr Prosser began talking to the group, the jury has been told.

At one point, Mr Prosser said something like "you can hire me for £2,000" meaning hire as a bodyguard but Bourne replied "what, sexually."

It was meant as a joke but the court heard how Mr Prosser punched him on the chin and when Bourne turned and left the shop, Mr Prosser followed him.

He tried to grab Bourne but was shrugged off and Bourne headed towards Balkerne Passage with Mr Prosser following him.

Behind him were some of Bourne's friends and when Mr Prosser punched Bourne, a friend hit Mr Prosser and he fell to the ground.

Mr Gross told the jury of six men and six women Bourne kicked Mr Prosser while he was on the ground before they all left the scene.

He added: "Afterwards, we were all talkng about how we could not believe what had happened. I did not think the man was badly hurt. I thought he would get up and walk away," Mr Gross said.

(proceeding)