Victim 'died after a single punch'

A Wolverhampton drinker in a pub who was in a "pumped up and violent mood" killed an innocent man with a single punch, a jury heard today.

Teetotal Hughie Ginty was "floored" by Karl Louden in the Spread Eagle pub, it is alleged. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that 35-year-old Louden, from Junction Road in Bilston, was "tanked and fired up" and was seen biting and kissing beer glasses, threatening "this is for you" at other customers who were drinking in the Bilston pub.

Prosecuting, Miss Naomi Gilchrist said Louden was embroiled in an argument in the pub on November 22 last year but that Mr Ginty, aged 48, was not involved.

"The reason for his violent mood was nothing to do with Hughie Ginty but he was the unfortunate victim of it," she said.

Tensions started to rise in the Lichfield Road pub at 11.30pm because of a row dating back two weeks between Louden's brother-in-law and another man, the court was told.

The jury heard the trouble then spilled out on to the car park, but that avid Wolves fan Mr Ginty took no part.

Miss Gilchrist said: "Hughie Ginty was standing by the door when all of a sudden the defendant punched him in the face, in effect, Hughie Ginty was floored.

"He was wearing glasses and the force of the punch made his glasses fly off. People were helping him up and he was saying 'who hit me? Who hit me?'"

Louden was then barred by the landlord while Mr Ginty, of Ash Street in Bradley, went to the toilet complaining he was feeling sick, Miss Gilchrist said.

"He collapsed in the gents and was taken to hospital by ambulance still unconscious," she added. "A scan of his brain revealed a large bleed and emergency surgery was carried out. But the surgeons were unable to save him and he died 48 hours later.

"The bleed on his brain was the result of this defendant's punch."

Louden told police he had acted in self defence, the jury was told. Louden denies manslaughter.

The trial continues.