A man has today admitted killing aspiring firefighter Duncan Browne on a night out in Liverpool city centre.
Mr Browne, 23, was assaulted on Hanover Street while waiting for a taxi in the early hours of Sunday, July 4 this year.
The young Everton fan, from Kirkby, suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital surrounded by his family the next day.
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Michael McLoughlin, 36, of Torus Road, Old Swan, today pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denied the charge of murder.
A second man, Terrence Kerwin, 34, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to both murder and manslaughter.
Both men appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, via video link from HMP Altcourse.
John Benson, QC, prosecuting, asked for the alternative charge of manslaughter to be added to the indictment, before they entered their pleas.
He said it was a "very sad case" and a trial had been listed for January 4 next year, which the court heard has an estimated length of seven days.
High Court judge Mrs Justice Amanda Yip remanded both McLoughlin and Kerwin in custody until the trial next year.
Detectives investigating his death said Duncan had "every right" to return home safely from a night out with his friends.
The young Everton fan had gone out to watch England's 4-0 quarter final win over Ukraine at Euro 2020 on Saturday, July 3.
Police said he and his friends were trying to get a taxi home at a taxi rank in Hanover Street, near the City Buffet restaurant and Brooks Alley, when he was attacked at around 3.30am.
Flowers, balloons and football scarves were left at the scene in the wake of his death, along with a series of heartbreaking tributes to Mr Browne.
An outpouring of grief also saw Liverpool FC flags hoisted above his local pub, the Kingfisher, replaced with Everton flags.
His grandad, John Browne, described him as a "warm-hearted, respectful young man, who was an aspiring firefighter".
The Edge Hill University sports science graduate grew up in Kirkby, attending St Peter and St Paul primary school, then All Saints.
He loved the band Coldplay and was "a mad Everton fan", having been named after Blues legend Duncan Ferguson by his Evertonian father, Colin Browne.
Describing him as "a nice, fun-loving guy", his grandad said he "went out to watch a football match that night and he never came home".
He also revealed how two children and two adults were saved as a result of receiving organs donated by him.
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