A grandfather helped his alleged killer to his feet moments before he was fatally attacked, a court has heard. David Darke, 66, died in hospital after sustaining a head injury outside the Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, just days before Christmas last year.
Leicester Crown Court was told that Nathan Gothard, 36, had spent the evening drinking at the pub and had made unwelcome advances towards female members of a staff Christmas party. The prosecutor, Peter Joyce KC, said the landlady and her partner escorted Gothard out through the back door and told him to go home, but he instead went looking for a confrontation.
Mr Joyce said Gothard became involved in a fight with another man from the group, was knocked down and kicked, but then David Darke stepped in to help him to his feet. Moments later, Gothard punched Mr Darke once, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground. Mr Darke was taken to hospital and died a few days later.
The prosecutor told the jury that Gothard's account of acting in self-defence was undermined by CCTV footage. He said: "In his fury and wanting revenge and having lost face he attacked David Darke. He punched him so hard that he was knocked straight onto the ground."
Gothard, of Church Street, Appleby Magna, denies both murder and manslaughter. The trial is expected to last seven days.
