'Stranger was killed by man angry over Rooney jibes in the street' Jury hears trainee accountant died from a head injury a week after being punched.

Byline: Liz Keen

A MAN was so upset about being likened to football star Wayne Rooney that he punched out and killed a stranger in Cardiff city centre, a jury was told.

Anthony Joseph Corsi felt so insulted that he got out of a taxi taking him home to St Albans Avenue, Heath, and confronted his tormentors, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

He walked back towards the men who had shouted "Rooney, Rooney" after him at 5am following a night's drinking, and swung a right hook at trainee accountant Christopher Jones, who died in hospital seven days later from a head injury.

Prosecutor Roger Thomas QC told the nine male and three female jurors: "Itmaynot have been very funny and it doesn't matter whether you think he looks like the footballer or not, but it had been a drunken joke.

"Getting out of the cab and walking back to Mr Jones and his two friends was wholly unnecessary.

"Anthony Corsi should have gone home but he was angry and annoyed and returned looking for trouble.

"We are not saying it was murder, that he intended to kill or to cause really serious harm, but he did start unlawful violence."

Mr Jones, who witnesses said fell unconscious and later seemed dazed, was found to be suffering bleeding around his brain but was still expected to make a full recovery after being monitored in hospital.

But just as he was anticipating being discharged, he unexpectedly collapsed in a toilet at the University Hospital of Wales on the morning of October 21, 2007, exactly a week after being taken by ambulance from St Mary Street.

Corsi, 24, denies manslaughter in a trial expected to last up to two weeks and told police: "I was upset about what they called me and stopped the car and got out."

He said he approached two men and then saw the third - Mr Jones - walking towards them.

"I was angry, nervous, upset and drunk - maybe it was the way he approached. I just remember him coming towards me and I hit him.

"I suppose I felt threatened and over-reacted."

Mr Jones had earlier watched England play France at rugby at The Willows pub in St Mellons before going into town with two friends.

Aftera4.30am-visit to Caroline Street they were on their way home when he was struck.

British Gas adviser Christopher Aberg, who was with Mr Jones at the time of the attack, admitted he had started the "Rooney" chants after Corsi walked up to two girls he was chatting to and put his arm round one of them.

"I called him Rooney as a joke because I though he looked like him and I could see he was annoyed by the reaction on his face," he told the court.

"He said 'do I look ginger?', then got in the taxi and we were shouting 'Rooney, Rooney' down the road.

"He came back, looking as if he was going to do or say something, saying to me and John 'who's the hard man?'.

"I saw Chris, who had crossed the road to go to McDonald's toilet coming back, and the gentleman saw him too, moved towards him and hit him."

John Charles Rees QC alleged: "You might call him gentleman now but you weren't treating him as such that night.

"He was a total stranger but was goaded, wound up and provoked.

"I don't want to insult Wayne Rooney but his looks have become a bit of a figure of fun and you knew my client, who was smaller than the three of you, would take offence."

Mr Aberg agreed he had continued the teasing "just for the heck of it" after seeing offence had been taken.

Mr Rees told him: "He was also called 'little' - all in all it was a pretty big insult."

The witness said: "Yes I can see now it might provoke a reaction."

But Mr Thomas said: "The tragic death is directly attributable to Corsi's actions."

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CAPTION(S):

DIED IN HOSPITAL: Trainee accountant Christopher Jones, top, was attacked after he was allegedly involved in taunting Anthony Corsi over his resemblance to footballer Wayne Rooney, left