Man died after being punched on doorstep by road-rage driver whose van he had clipped, court hears

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A father-of-two died after being punched by a motorist whose van he “clipped” in a minor collision while drink-driving, a court has heard.

Stephen Walsh was found dead the morning after an alleged confrontation with Oliver Brown, who was described as ”pumped up and angry” over damage to his Vauxhall Astra.

Walsh, 37, crashed his Lexus after drinking 10 pints of lager while celebrating his father’s birthday and a christening in Mapperley, Nottingham, last year.

His fiancee, Katie Brown, said she was “frustrated” with him after he chose to drive back from the night out despite drinking heavily.

Walsh failed to stop following the 29 July collision, which caused damage to the wing mirror and front of Mr Brown’s van.

Prosecutors told Nottingham Crown Court Mr Brown, 21, confronted Walsh after “circling” the area to find the driver responsible for the crash.

He hit Walsh so hard he fell and cracked his head on the ground, the jury heard.

Ms Brown told the court: “The front door was wide open and Stephen was lying on the floor with his head facing his car and I just fell to my knees and had my hands on his arm.

“[Mr Brown] threw his arms back and said ‘I thought he was going to hit me, so I hit him’.

“I panicked at this point because I had never seen Stephen unconscious before.

“I just said to [Mr Brown], ‘What have you done, what have you done?”’

Ms Brown broke down in tears as she recalled checking on her partner the next morning and finding him dead in bed. There was blood on his nose and head.

Mr Brown, 21, of Golden Sands Caravan Park in Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, denies manslaughter.

His girlfriend, Rosann Newton, 21, of Findern Green, Nottingham, denies assisting an offender after giving false statements to police and deleting text messages from her mobile.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by PA