Disabled man died after punch ruptured stomach

WAREHOUSE WORKER ON TRIAL AFTER FATAL STRIKE

- By ESTHER HALLIGAN

A WAREHOUSE worker is standing trial accused of fatally punching his roommate in the stomach.

Ingus Budreckis, 35, is alleged to have attacked Davis Sits - who was found slumped in a toilet, hours after celebrating his 30th birthday. The two men, both from Latvia, worked at a clothing recycling warehouse in Middlesbrough.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Budreckis, who towered over Mr Sits, had recently come to work at Bled Textiles and he had shared a room with Mr Sits for around a week at the time of the alleged attack.

The court heard that the textile business, recycles or processes clothes given to them by charities; and that workers were housed next to the warehouse - “typically in a prefabricated cabin or outbuilding”.

Nick Dry, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Sits was a small manbarely 5ft tall - that he was registered disabled and “missing a finger”.

He took medication for ongoing stomach problems.