A JURY has been asked to "consider the evidence not theories" as they decide whether a 54-year-old intended to kill a man who died after choking to death on a sock while tied up with shoe laces in his flat.

Paul Paget is accused of "luring" Anthony Bubbins into his flat with a "threatening letter" after he found out that Paget was stealing from him.

There, say the crown, Paget carried out a "cold and calculated murder", by tying up his victim with shoe laces and stuffing a 22cm sock into his mouth, causing him to choke to death.

Paget admits the act, and also admits later ransacking Mr Bubbins' flat for valuable goods, which he sold to buy a car before being arrested in Devon on Tuesday, January 16.

The crown's case is that Paget wanted Mr Bubbins "out of the way", prosecutor Caroline Rees QC told the jury at Newport Crown Court today.

"This is a defendant who is motivated by personal gain," she added.

"We know that the defendant had been stealing from his victim. The prosecution's case is that the defendant had to do something to get Anothony Bubbins out of the way.

"He lured him to his home with the letter to make sure that he wouldn't get in his way in the future."

But Paget's version of events is that his neighbour and friend Jonathan Browning, who died on January 2, told him the alleged murder victim had sexually assaulted him.

Wanting to confront Mr Bubbins, Paget says he invited him over to his flat in Brynderwen Road, Newport, for a meal.

Once there, Paget told the court, Mr Bubbins taunted him, saying that Mr Browning had "loved what they were doing".

In the tussle that followed, Paget admits trying up Mr Bubbins with his own shoelaces and stuffing a sock into his mouth, but says that he intended to "shut him up", rather than to kill him.

But within a few minutes, said Paget, he turned Mr Bubbins over from his front to his back to find him dead.

Paget, who has a record of 22 offences involving dishonesty, says he watched the body for hours before returning to Mr Bubbin's address to steal the goods. He added he must have dropped the letter there, which was addressed to a "different Tony".

Defending, David Elias QC, today reminded the jury that they should consider only the evidence in front of them, rather than "theories" put forward by the prosecution.

"The defence says that his actions were reactive," he told the jury.

"All the evidence supports what the defendant has told you. It doesn't support the image of a 'cold, calculated killer'.

"What happened afterwards was simply the defendant reverting to type. We know he has a history of burglary and dishonesty. He needed to get away. But this was not planned. He didn't even have a car to get away in. He hadn't planned what he was going to do."

Paget is facing one count of murder relating to the death of Mr Bubbins. He admits the killing, but is relying on the defence of loss of control. If found not guilty of murder , he will be sentenced for manslaughter.