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Adrian Cooksey death: Richard Elmes denies friend's manslaughter | Adrian Cooksey death: Richard Elmes denies friend's manslaughter |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man has denied the manslaughter of his friend almost three years after he gave evidence at the trial of a student wrongly accused of causing the death. | A man has denied the manslaughter of his friend almost three years after he gave evidence at the trial of a student wrongly accused of causing the death. |
Richard Elmes, 51, denies landing the single blow which killed Adrian Cooksey in Melksham, Wiltshire, in March 2009. | Richard Elmes, 51, denies landing the single blow which killed Adrian Cooksey in Melksham, Wiltshire, in March 2009. |
Bristol Crown Court heard Mr Elmes, of Semington Road in Melksham, said he was too drunk to recall what had happened to Mr Cooksey. | Bristol Crown Court heard Mr Elmes, of Semington Road in Melksham, said he was too drunk to recall what had happened to Mr Cooksey. |
Student Tom Minshull was acquitted of his manslaughter in November 2009. | Student Tom Minshull was acquitted of his manslaughter in November 2009. |
Mr Cooksey, 50, from Trowbridge, who ran the building and plumbing firm A Cooksey & Sons, was discovered lying unconscious in Spa Road after a drinking session by an off-duty police community support officer in the early hours of 8 March 2009. | Mr Cooksey, 50, from Trowbridge, who ran the building and plumbing firm A Cooksey & Sons, was discovered lying unconscious in Spa Road after a drinking session by an off-duty police community support officer in the early hours of 8 March 2009. |
He was pronounced dead in hospital later that morning. | He was pronounced dead in hospital later that morning. |
The 50-year-old was a well-known member of Bradford-on-Avon Cricket Club, captaining the second team and playing many times for the first team. | The 50-year-old was a well-known member of Bradford-on-Avon Cricket Club, captaining the second team and playing many times for the first team. |
A pathologist said Mr Cooksey had died from an overwhelming brain injury, when part of his head came into contact with the ground following a heavy blow to the face. | |
Mr Elmes had been friends with Mr Cooksey since he was six, the court heard. | Mr Elmes had been friends with Mr Cooksey since he was six, the court heard. |
Grainy CCTV footage appeared to clear Mr Elmes of being at the scene in the moments leading up to the assault. | Grainy CCTV footage appeared to clear Mr Elmes of being at the scene in the moments leading up to the assault. |
The jury heard that gaps in CCTV footage suggested he could have been at the scene. | The jury heard that gaps in CCTV footage suggested he could have been at the scene. |
A fresh investigation began and his lies were discovered when police recorded him admitting that he had told "porkies". | |
Jury members were told Mr Elmes had earlier admitted a charge of perjury. | Jury members were told Mr Elmes had earlier admitted a charge of perjury. |
Ian Lawrie QC, prosecuting, said: "It is the Crown's case that the moment police spoke to Elmes following the discovery of the body that Elmes wasn't being entirely honest and that he effectively told a number of lies. | Ian Lawrie QC, prosecuting, said: "It is the Crown's case that the moment police spoke to Elmes following the discovery of the body that Elmes wasn't being entirely honest and that he effectively told a number of lies. |
"Those statements by Elmes had one significant impact on the police investigation being carried out. | "Those statements by Elmes had one significant impact on the police investigation being carried out. |
"We will discover that there were two young students on Spa Road. | "We will discover that there were two young students on Spa Road. |
"One of them, Mr Minshull, was arrested and stood trial for manslaughter. A jury acquitted him. | "One of them, Mr Minshull, was arrested and stood trial for manslaughter. A jury acquitted him. |
"Elmes attended the trial as a witness and told lies under oath." | "Elmes attended the trial as a witness and told lies under oath." |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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