MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL TOLD MAN 'FLEW 4-5 FEET' THEN HIT FENCE

Punch in face led to man's fatal injuries, court told

- By DAVID POWELL Daily Post Reporter

A MAN died after suffering “devastating” head injuries when he was punched in a “moment of mindless violence’; a court heard yesterday. Paul Ince is accused of hitting John Ithell before Mr Ithell fell back into a fence and died about four hours later.

Ince, 31, denies the manslaughter of Mr Ithell, 59, in Wrexham on June 12, 2023.

Yesterday a jury at Mold Crown Court heard Mr Ithell and a friend had gone to a flat in Pont Wen in Pentre Gwyn.

They tried to buy drugs but, when a man - Carl Brown - came down and said it was the wrong flat, another man - Ince - ran outside the flat and punched Mr Ithell in the face, claimed prosecutor Mark Connor.

Mr Ithell’s friend Rebecca Baldini later told police she had heard a “clack” She said Mr Ithell “flew” four or five feet and hit a wooden fence.

She said later: “I can still hear the clack in my head. People say you can close your eyes to see it. I can see it with my eyes open”

The court heard Carl Brown then told Ince: “I think you've knocked him out”

But Mr Ithell, whose nickname was Bronco, walked away, later reaching Whitegate Industrial Estate, said the prosecution.