‘SINGLE PUNCH’ KILLING TRIAL STARTS
ADOORMAN killed a dad-ofone with a “malicious” single punch to the head during a confrontation about alleged damage to his van, a court heard.
One witness said the punch came “out of the blue” and another described seeing the victim’s legs “go to jelly”.
Prosecutor Michael Jones QC said the victim, Gavin Rees, 24, immediately collapsed to the floor unconscious. His attacker, Jeffrey Shepherd, 45, was heard to shout: “You are paying for my f***ing van.”
Cardiff Crown Court heard Shepherd then got into his van and drove away at speed, leaving Mr Rees unconscious on the ground.
Mr Rees, from Caerau – who had a four-year-old son – later died as a result of his injuries on September 20, 2017. Shepherd is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court accused of manslaughter, which he denies on the grounds he was acting in self-defence.
Mr Jones said: “It was, the Crown say, a single but gratuitous and unlawful punch that had catastrophic consequences.”
The court heard the incident occurred around 5pm on August 30 last year in the car park of Maesteg Community Hospital.
Prosecutors said Shepherd alleged Mr Rees had damaged his van by punching the passenger door and arranged to meet him to discuss payment. The court heard the men met in the hospital grounds, with other friends present, and started to talk about the damage.
Mr Jones said: “It was then, the prosecution say, that the defendant swung without any justification or provocation when Mr Rees was not looking.”
Prosecutors allege Shepherd deliberately punched Mr Rees to the side of his head – a punch described as “gratuitous, malicious and sly”.
Paramedics found Mr Rees unresponsive and struggling to breathe. He was given CPR and rushed to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend .
Prosecutors said he was treated for swelling to the brain and put on a life support machine, before being transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where he underwent an operation to relieve pressure on his brain. Mr Rees was given further emergency treatment over the next three weeks until his life support was withdrawn and he was pronounced dead on September 20 last year.
Pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeatter found the cause of death to be a traumatic brain injury.
Shepherd was initially arrested on suspicion of assault before Mr Rees died and said: “Can I make a complaint because he hit me first.”
He said Mr Rees had damaged his van while his friend was using it by punching the passenger door.
The defendant said he told Mr Rees he wanted £100 for the damage and accepted meeting him in the hospital car park. He told police Mr Rees was being “aggressive”, adding: “He swung for me and I hit him once.”
Shepherd, 45, from Dros Col in Llanharry, who is represented by David Elias QC, denies manslaughter.
The court heard he worked as a qualified and registered doorman since 2004.
The case, presided over by Judge Eleri Rees, is expected to last for about two weeks.
The trial continues.