A TEENAGER has gone on trial for manslaughter after punching a 62-year-old man, who suffered a bleed to the brain and later died in hospital.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, is accused of killing Roy Bester following an altercation last year. He denies manslaughter.
On the first day of the youth’s Royal Court trial, jury members heard that on 5 March last year 62-year-old Mr Bester got on his bike and went to a corner shop to buy a bottle of alcohol, then rode off.
“This was to be the last time he was to do that,” Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, said.
The defendant, who was driving a car with two other young people inside it, became impatient with the cyclist, the court heard.
The youth eventually got out of the car and became aggressive, said Advocate Hallam.
Advocate Hallam said: “The defendant got out of his car to confront Mr Bester.
“Having driven aggressively and followed Mr Bester, and having got out of his car to confront Mr Bester, if anyone had any reason to be scared at this point it was Mr Bester.”
After a short altercation, the defendant got back into the car and followed the victim, before they eventually stopped again.
Advocate Hallam said: “Each of [the defendant’s] decisions would ultimately lead to the death of Mr Bester.”
The court heard how the defendant and Mr Bester then bounced “like boxers”.
Mr Bester, she explained, “struck the defendant” – who was not injured.
“The defendant did not come to his senses and the defendant did not back down,” she said.
The defendant punched Mr Bester, who broke bones in three places, and suffered a bleed to the brain, with the latter injury being described as fatal.
After being tended to by a member of the public and emergency services, the victim was taken to hospital and put into an artificial coma. He contracted pneumonia and was taken off life support on 22 March.
The court heard that the injuries Mr Bester sustained were the cause of his death – which was not disputed.
Advocate Hallam said: “The defendant unlawfully killed Mr Bester… his unlawful violence led to Mr Bester’s death.”
She told the jury they did not need to decide whether the punch killed Mr Bester, but whether the force was appropriate.
Advocate James Bell is defending.
The Deputy Bailiff, Robert MacRae, is presiding over the Assize jury trial.
The trial continues. It is due to last four more days.
