'It wasn't fun anymore': Friend of man allegedly murdered at 40th birthday party takes the stand

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A close friend of a man allegedly murdered at a 'debauched' celebration on his 40th birthday has recalled the moment she realised 'something had happened' and that 'it wasn't fun anymore.' James Johnson, 29, is accused of strangling David Toulson to death at Mr Toulson's apartment in Salford by putting him in a 'deliberate and dangerous chokehold' Mr Johnson denies the charge and is standing trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Jurors have been told that he says he acted in self-defence. READ MORE: 'Someone tried to rape me and I've killed them': Forest Bank prison officer murdered friend during 40th birthday party, trial hears He told police he put Mr Toulson, who the court has been told was gay, in a 'guillotine hold' as he began 'dragging him towards the bedroom' with his barrister telling the court he 'honestly believed he was about to be raped or sexually assaulted.' However, prosecutors say the evidence does 'not support the assertion that Mr Toulson was about to sexually accost or assault Mr Johnson.' They allege what happened between the two men 'was more than a single choke-hold', that Mr Johnson 'easily overpowered' Mr Toulson, and that the force he used was 'excessive' and therefore unlawful.

The court has heard a group of four friends, Mr Johnson, Mr Toulson, and two women, Ellie Smith and Nikki Burns had met at Mr Toulson's flat in Adelphi Court early on June 25 last year, Mr Toulson's 40th birthday.

Mr Johnson met 42-year-old Ms Smith whilst they were both working as prison officers at HMP Forest Bank and he moved into her home with her in April last year after splitting with his girlfriend last year.