The Arbroath fire death murder trial has heard about shouting and swearing coming from the accused's flat before a huge bang.
Jurors at the High Court in Livingston also heard claims that 18-year-old Stewart Blackburn had attacked his girlfriend in the street on the same day she died.
Mr Blackburn pushed Jessica McCagh, 17, through a hedge and punched her so hard she fell over after they fell out following a party, the court heard. Barrie Scotthorne, 28, said he first became aware of the couple when he heard them arguing on their way back to Mr Blackburn's flat in Bloomfield Road, Arbroath, where the fire later broke out.
Mr Scotthorne, who was standing outside his house waiting for the police after witnessing an earlier incident unconnected with the case, said Mr Blackburn and Jessica were both shouting, then he saw Mr Blackburn push Jessica through the hedge "with both hands".
He said: "I heard Jessica shouting to Stewart that she loved him. That was after she was pushed through the hedge. Stewart ran off. At that point I walked towards Jessica to see if she was OK. I was concerned. Jessica was crying. As I got near her she got up and ran off after Stewart."
Mr Scotthorne said he walked on in the direction they had gone, and then saw Mr Blackburn strike Jessica. He said: "I saw Stewart hit her on the left side of the head. It was a punch." The solicitor-general, Frank Mulholland QC, prosecuting, asked: "Was it a clenched fist?" Mr Scotthorne replied: "It looked like it from the reaction it caused to Jessica. It knocked Jessica off her feet. She fell against a fence and slumped down to the ground."
The trial later heard that shouting and swearing was coming from the accused man's flat before a large "bang" was heard. Joe Simpson, 17, said he had to flee the flat he was in when the building filled with thick smoke.
The witness told the court he was staying with his friend Ricci Foreman's flat in Bloomfield Road on the night of April 24-25. Around four other people were in the flat, which was visited that night by Mr Blackburn and Ms McCagh, he said.
The pair stayed for around an hour and were drinking vodka, he said. Mr Simpson described how later on that night he heard shouting and swearing coming from Mr Blackburn's flat downstairs, which lasted around half an hour.
He said it then went silent "for a brief moment" and he heard a loud "bang". The trial heard the noise drove Mr Foreman from his bedroom, who went downstairs with another friend to investigate.
Mr Simpson said he became "really worried" and added: "Smoke was coming through Ricci's flat. I couldn't see my own hand." He told how he felt his way to safety down the stairs, with his jumper covering his mouth.
Mr Blackburn denies murdering Ms McCagh by dousing her in petrol and setting fire to her and the bed in his flat, 83 Bloomfield Road, Arbroath.
He has admitted, however, that he did throw petrol about which then ignited, causing Ms McCagh's fatal injuries - a plea to culpable homicide that has not been accepted by the Crown.
Mr Blackburn also denies possessing cannabis, causing a breach of the peace by pointing an air rifle at Mr Scotthorne and another man Andrew Aitchison and repeatedly pulling the trigger, and assaulting Ms McCagh by seizing hold of her, pulling her, slapping and punching her on the head, knocking her down, and pushing her.
The trial, before Lord Bracadale, continues.
