Man found not guilty of murder with scooter during street fight

A New South Wales man, Kane Flanders, 32, has been acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges related to the 2024 death of Ash Morgan. The verdict came after a trial in the Supreme Court in Newcastle, where Flanders was accused of striking Morgan with a metal scooter during a street brawl.

The court was presented with evidence that Mr. Morgan, 38, was armed with an axe and threatened Mr. Flanders during a confrontation that lasted several minutes. Emergency services found Mr. Morgan with severe head injuries at the scene in Raymond Terrace. The altercation was reportedly captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage.

Flanders's legal team mounted a self-defense argument throughout the trial. They contended that Flanders acted in a reasonable manner when faced with a threat from Mr. Morgan, who was described as agitated and hysterical. The defense also questioned the reliability of key witnesses, including Mr. Morgan's partner, whose shouts of "that's enough" were heard in recordings of the fight.

After four days of deliberation, the jury returned a not guilty verdict on both the murder and manslaughter charges. Justice Desmond Fagan thanked the jury, acknowledging the community's faith in their decision. Mr. Flanders remains in custody as he faces other charges for which bail has been refused.