A man's decision to walk through a park cost him his life, a court heard.

Seph Lawrance, 22, was making his way to a friend's home when he chose a route through Goffs Park in Crawley.

He was brutally attacked in Goffs Lane and kicked to death.

Mr Lawrance, who worked at Costa Coffee at Gatwick, was found dying on the footpath with severe head injuries on the evening of January 7.

Andrew Goss, 24, of Monarch Close, Crawley, and Aadeel Virani, 21, of Jewel Walk, Crawley, both deny murder and robbing Mr Lawrance of his mobile phone.

The jury at Lewes Crown Court has heard how a 999 call was made from the Nokia 3410 at 6.23pm but the caller did not speak and the emergency operator could only hear shouting and someone groaning.

In his closing speech Michael Birnbaum QC, prosecuting, told the court Mr Lawrance's attackers may have assaulted him so violently because he was trying to call for help.

He said: "They must have realised he was making a 999 call. We ask whether the fact he was trying to alert the emergency services is the reason he was so seriously assaulted."

Mr Birnbaum said the decision by Mr Lawrance, of Leopold Road, Crawley, to walk through the park sadly cost him his life.

He reminded the jury of the description of Mr Lawrance by family and friends.

He said: "Seph comes across as a very unaggressive and gentle person who would not have initiated any violence himself."

The jury of two men and ten women has been told it can return an alternative verdict of manslaughter if it believes Mr Lawrance's alleged attackers did not intend to cause really serious harm.

During the three-week trial the court has heard there were no witnesses to the fatal attack but when Goss and Virani were arrested three days later they each blamed the other for starting the violence.

The trial continues.