A kind-hearted grandfather who helped a man up from the ground moments earlier was punched and killed outside a Leicestershire pub, a court trial has revealed.
Man accused of punching grandfather outside Leicestershire pub denies murder | ITV News Central
David Darke, a 66-year-old much-loved grandad, died in hospital after the incident days before Christmas last year. Nathan Gothard, 36, had been drinking at the Crown Inn in Appleby Magna and was asked to leave after making unwelcome comments to women at a staff Christmas party, prosecutors told Leicester Crown Court.
Man accused of punching grandfather outside Leicestershire pub denies murder | ITV News Central
Instead of heading home, Gothard reportedly sought out trouble. He got into a fight with another man from the group and was knocked down. Mr. Darke stepped in to help pull him back to his feet. That’s when Gothard allegedly struck the older man with a powerful punch, causing him to fall and hit his head.
Prosecutor Peter Joyce KC described the events of Sunday, December 21. A group from a nearby hotel Christmas party had gone to the pub around 7pm, where Gothard had already been since early afternoon. His behavior turned the atmosphere tense, leading staff to escort him out the back and urge him to go home, just a short walk across the parking lot.
But Gothard lingered and confronted the group again. He removed his glasses before engaging in the fight, which he lost. After being helped up by Mr. Darke, he lashed out in anger. “He hit him so hard that he was knocked straight onto the ground,” Joyce said. Mr. Darke was rushed to the hospital and passed away a few days later.
Gothard was later taken home by a family member and arrested. Police say his account of events doesn’t match CCTV footage, which shows he initiated the violence after losing face in the earlier scuffle. The prosecution argues the punch was intended to cause serious harm, amounting to murder.
Gothard, from Church Street in Appleby Magna, denies both murder and manslaughter charges. The trial is expected to last about seven days.