Man was allegedly 'kneed' down flight of stairs, murder trial hears
A man was allegedly kneed in the back which caused him to fall down the stairs to his death, a trial has heard.
A witness described to Wolverhampton Crown Court how he saw Daniel Pelechacz being forcibly removed from the Kilmat nightclub on September 30, in 2018.
A person – known as “Male A” – had come up behind Mr Pelechanz and forcibly began to remove him from the West Bromwich-based premises, a murder trial was told.
Male A was later identified as Krysztof Kowalski by the witness after a series of identity parades, prosecutor Mr David Mason QC said.
Witness Gregorsz Markowski had visited the West Bromwich-based nightclub on September 30 with two friends, just after midnight.
Three men were standing at the top of the stairs, one who was selling tickets, and another two behind him drinking, the court heard.
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Entering the club, Mr Markowski said there had been a row between two girls – who had to be removed from the club – but there was no other incidents, a judge was told.
He told Wolverhampton Crown Court: “After 3am in the morning we were asked to leave.
“The bartender starts saying the club is finishing selling drinks and the music stops.
“A person stepped in [Mr Pelechacz], grabbed him by his arms, and was pushing him towards the exit.
“He was trying to leave and he was kneed from the back from Male A – [Mr Pelechacz] was not resisting at all.”
The witness said he did not see the person who kneed Mr Pelechanz again but had overheard a member of security say the victim was “unconscious” and had been moved to the pavement.
The witness denied knowing Mr Pelechanz beforehand, despite there being a “tight-knit” Polish community in the area.
Mr Icah Peart, defending, said the descriptions of the three men – at the top of the stairs – could have been mistaken.
The defendant had described both Male A – and another – as “like brothers” during his police statement, Mr Peart said.
Krysztof Kowalski, aged 38, of Greets Green, West Bromwich, denies murder and manslaughter.
The trial continues.
