A pub goer accused of killing a grandfather with a single punch admitted in court that he knew he had caused serious harm when he heard the man's head hit the ground. Nathan Gothard, 37, told Leicester Crown Court he did not intend to kill David Darke, 66, but was aware of the severity of the injury from the sound of the impact.
The Incident Outside The Crown Inn
Mr Darke suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain after being punched outside The Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, just before Christmas. He died in hospital on December 27. Gothard, who lives yards from the pub, said he 'lashed out' with a 'preemptive strike' because he feared he was about to be attacked.
Prosecutors claim Gothard wanted 'revenge' after being knocked to the ground by another man earlier that evening. The court heard that Gothard had been in the pub since 4pm, drinking several pints of San Miguel, and described himself as 'merry, in a good mood'.
Gothard's Account of Events
Gothard claimed that a group from a nearby Best Western hotel was 'pointing and looking and laughing' at him, making him feel ridiculed. He denied making unwelcome advances towards women in the group or causing a 'menacing, threatening, argumentative' atmosphere. He said Mr Darke threatened to 'bury me and put me in the ground' after Gothard remarked that Darke was older than his own father.
After being asked to leave by the landlady, Gothard remained outside. He was then punched and kicked by Ty Fern. Prosecutors say Mr Darke tried to help Gothard up before being punched. But Gothard claimed Mr Darke 'violently' grabbed him and threatened to kill him.
The Fatal Punch
'I've lashed out and hit him as I thought I was going to get attacked again,' Gothard said. 'I threw a single punch. A preemptive strike to stop being assaulted again.' He admitted he knew Mr Darke was seriously hurt by the sound of his fall but denied intending to kill or cause serious injury. 'I just wanted the threat to stop,' he said.
Gothard denied 'bouncing about' after the punch and said he did not call for help because it 'all happened so fast'. The trial continues.
