Man found dead '˜wrestled topless' with alleged killer

A MAN who was found dead after a night out was seen 'playfighting' topless with his alleged killer, a witness has claimed in court.

Alex Forbes from Edinburgh.

Offshore worker John Taylor, 52, said he saw accused Adrian Hynd wrestle with alleged victim Alex Forbes in Fife, in the early hours of January 2.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Mr Taylor say that he and his brother in law witnessed the pair taking off their shirts and having a mock fight.

Mr Taylor said he and his brother had spent the previous evening drinking in the Windsor Bar in Kirkcaldy.

The court heard how Mr Forbes, from Edinburgh, and Mr Hynd had also been drinking in the pub.

Jurors heard how Mr Forbes had told pub goers that he was “related” to an Edinburgh based gangster and boxing champion Tyson Fury.

At closing time, Mr Taylor, his relative and Mr Forbes ended up back at Mr Hynd’s home for a “party”.

Later in the evening, Mr Forbes started having a pretend fight with his host.

Mr Taylor told the court: “It was playfighting. Alex took off his shirt and so did Adrian. They were play fighting. They were grappling. They were both on the ground at that point. We thought it was a bit silly and we left.”

Mr Taylor was giving evidence on the second day of proceedings against 51-year-old Adrian Hynd, of Kirkcaldy, Fife,.

Prosecutors claim Mr Hynd murdered Mr Forbes at his home in Kirkcaldy after the pair met the previous evening in the Windsor Bar pub.

Mr Hynd denies any wrong doing and he claims he acted in self defence after Mr Forbes attacked him.

Yesterday, Mr Taylor said he and his brother in law started speaking to Mr Forbes in Windsor Bar.

He said Mr Forbes had been singing Karaoke and had taken “his song.”

Mr Taylor said that he had been having a “tongue in cheek” conversation with Mr Forbes who claimed to be related to boxing champion Tyson Fury.

Mr Taylor told the court: “He said he had Tyson Fury’s phone number and he was trying to phone him. But he didn’t get him.”

The court also heard that Mr Forbes allegedly told pub goers that he was “related” to a “gangster” called Mr Kelbie.

He said that at pub closing time, they took a very short taxi ride back to Mr Hynd’s flat.

Mr Taylor said Mr Hynd’s property was decorated with weapons. He said that he saw a “gothic style” knife in the flat. He added: “It was a fairly large knife. It was on a stand.”

The court heard that Mr Hynd also had a glass eye and removed it during the evening. Eventually, the court heard that Mr Forbes and Mr Hynd started play fighting. “It wasn’t violent but we decided to leave,” he added.

Hynd’s upstairs neighbour Elaine Roberts, 30, told the court that she heard loud music and shouting coming from his flat.

She told police investigating the incident that she heard a “painful scream” coming from Mr Hynd’s flat at about 4.20am.

She looked out of her living room window later in the morning to find that police had set up a crime scene.

Prosecutors claim Mr Hynd struggled with Mr Forbes, seized hold of his neck, repeatedly punched him on the head and body before butting him on the head.

Mr Hynd has pleaded not guilty. The trial, before judge Lord Ericht, continues.