A MAN involved in a fight at a bed and breakfast said “I’ve killed him” after learning the person he had been restraining minutes before had stopped breathing, an inquest heard.

Kevin Lavelle, 29, from Netherton, Liverpool, was pronounced dead at Banbury’s Horton Hospital on March 25, 2004, after apparently being hit over the head with a metal bar at least twice the night before in an altercation with a group of Welsh railway workers staying at The Cricketers Arms.

Leslie Gibbs had been restraining Mr Lavelle in a passageway after grabbing him as he was fighting with one of his colleagues, the inquest heard.

Two of the Welsh men giving evidence at Oxford Coroner’s Court today, Daniel Sweet and Ceri Noble, said they had heard Leslie Gibbs saying he had killed Mr Lavelle.

But Mr Gibbs said: “I can’t remember exactly what I did say.”

Philip Lawless, Mr Noble and Mr Sweet admitted going to the room Mr Lavelle was sharing with his friend Marc Kirk. Mr Noble said he heard a Liverpudlian threaten to stab one of their colleagues.

Those questioned admitted restraining Mr Lavelle, but denied actually hitting him. A verdict is expected tomorrow.