'Cowardly blow killed dad' - trial.

A BIRMINGHAM father-oftwo died after being struck a "cowardly" blow by a man who moments later was heard crying and asking friends: "What have I done?" a court was told.

Tracy McConnell was knocked to the floor outside a pub by the blow landed by Jason D'Aguilar, it was alleged.

It happened after violence flared outside the Fordrough Pub in West Heath, in March. D'Aguilar, aged 21, of Kingsdown Road, Northfield, denies manslaughter.

A Birmingham Crown Court jury was shown CCTV footage of the moment Tracy McConnell was knocked to the floor.

Peter Grieves-Smith, prosecuting, said trouble had erupted between two men - Mr McConnell's nephew Matthew, and Billy Casey - who traded blows inside before fighting moved on to the car park.

The court was told that Casey and his group of friends had walked away but D'Aguilar was heard to say about Tracy McConnell: "I was going to batter him."

D'Aguilar later returned and, as fighting continued, witnesses saw the accused walk up to Mr McConnell.

"It was a cowardly punch from Jason D'Aguilar which struck Tracy McConnell at a time when he wasn't involved in any trouble," Mr Grieves-Smith told the court.

(Proceeding)