'Macho' punching game caused man's death, jury hears

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33597440

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A "macho game of blow-for-blow" at a birthday party resulted in a young father's death, a court has heard.

Father-of-two Tommy Main, 23, died at a 16th birthday celebration in Erith, south-east London, in June last year.

The prosecution told the jury Desmond Bartley, 21, and Mr Main were trying to see how hard they could hit each other before Mr Main suffered a cardiac arrest.

Mr Bartley denies manslaughter.

The two men lived on the same estate and had known each other for 10 years, the court heard.

Cocaine and alcohol

Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC told the jury Mr Main punched the defendant first, to which Mr Bartley said: "No, that weren't good enough."

The victim was said to have hit Mr Bartley again in the chest, before apologising.

Mr Bartley allegedly delivered the killer blow to the chest after Mr Main told him it was his turn to strike back.

The victim fell ill and was pronounced dead later that night in hospital. The formal cause of death was given as cardiac arrest following blunt chest impact in the presence of cocaine and alcohol.

'Hardly touched him'

Mr Bartley told police they had exchanged jabs while "play-fighting" and "messing around".

In a written statement, he said: "I hardly touched him and I said I didn't want to play any more.

"He just stood there, took a breath and laughed and fainted on the floor forward."

Mr Rees acknowledged: "There is no suggestion that there had been any animosity between the two earlier that evening".

But he said witnesses had described the blows as "forceful".

The trial at Inner London Crown Court continues.