Kane Flanders found not guilty of murder and manslaughter in Ash Morgan's death

A New South Wales man has been found not of killing a man he struck over the head with a metal scooter.

Hunter Valley resident Kane Flanders, 32, faced a murder and manslaughter trial in the Supreme Court in Newcastle over the death of Ash Morgan, 38.

The court heard Mr Morgan died during a street brawl at Raymond Terrace in April 2024 after he was struck by Mr Flanders with a Razor-branded scooter.

Mr Morgan was armed with an axe and had threatened Mr Flanders during an altercation that lasted several minutes, the court heard.

Emergency services were called to Cambridge Avenue and found Mr Morgan with severe head injuries.

The jury was told the fight was filmed on CCTV and a mobile phone.

Act of self-defence

During the weeks-long trial Mr Flanders's legal team relied on a self-defence argument and questioned the reliability of witnesses called to give evidence.

The court heard Mr Flanders told police that he was threatened with an axe before he struck Mr Morgan.

In his closing address defence barrister Stuart Boeving argued Mr Morgan was agitated and hysterical.

Mr Boeving told the jury his client responded in a reasonable way.

The defence also argued two witnesses gave unreliable evidence, including Mr Morgan's partner.

She could be heard yelling "that's enough" in recordings of the fight that were played in court.

During her evidence she also claimed Mr Morgan yelled for help after he was struck.

On Tuesday the jury cleared Mr Flanders of the charges after four days of deliberation

Justice Desmond Fagan thanked the jury and told the court that "the community has faith in what a jury decides".

Mr Flanders will remain in custody. He is before the courts on other charges for which he has been refused bail.