Death punch was 'spur of the moment'

A pub-goer who killed a man with a single punch found out his victim's life support machine had been turned off after his brother phoned to break the news two days later, a manslaughter jury heard.

In the witness box at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Karl Louden said he felt "hurt and sorry" Hughie Ginty had died but insisted that he had acted in self-defence.

Louden, of Junction Road, Bilston, punched Mr Ginty in the Spread Eagle pub on November 22 last year.

"I didn't want to hit him, it was a spur of the moment thing," said 35-year-old Louden. "He came towards me, I didn't plan it. I intended to punch him to stop him hitting me.

"When I hit him, all of a sudden there were people around us, I didn't see him hit the floor. I didn't think he was seriously injured and I left the pub."

Louden had been involved in a dispute with Mr Ginty's brother and another man in the pub earlier in the night.

Miss Naomi Gilchrist, prosecuting, said he was "ranting and raving" and looking for violence.

Louden told the jury yesterday: "I was a bit scared about what was going to happen when he was walking towards me, I know about the reputation of the Gintys. My mum phoned me the next day to say the police had come to arrest me for assault.

"Then my brother rang me on the Thursday and told me Hughie Ginty was dead. I am not happy about it, I never meant to hurt him."

Mr John Cooper, defending, asked Louden, who denies manslaughter, if Bilston was a "genteel place" or "rough and tough".

"It's rough and tough," Louden answered. "I had just had an argument with Hughie's brother and best friend and the next minute he was heading towards me."

Wolves-mad Mr Ginty, who lived in Ash Street in Bradley, died of a massive bleed on the brain.

Miss Gilchrist said the victim had not played a part in any of the trouble but was the "unfortunate victim" of it. The trial continues.