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Man denies murder over 'bar punch' death

Alex McIntyreWest Midlands
News imageSupplied A man wearing a black hoodie is standing in what appears to be a bar. He is looking at the photographer, with a television screen behind him and a green fire exit sign.Supplied
Lichfield landlord Matthew O'Gara died two days after being injured during a disturbance outside the Rico & Loren bar in Market Street in the town

A man has denied murdering a businessman who died after he was reportedly punched at a bar.

Billy Allison, 36, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Matthew O'Gara and causing grievous bodily harm at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday.

O'Gara, a pub director, died in hospital two days after police were called to reports of two men being punched at the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street, Lichfield, on 24 May.

Allison, of Cropthorne Road in Shirley, Solihull, appeared at the court hearing via a video-link, wearing a round neck grey Nike sweater.

News imagePA Media A purple shop front with "Ricco & Loren - cocktails, wines, sprits" written in gold lettering on a fascia board above the doors.PA Media
Police were called following reports of two men being punched outside the bar, on 24 May this year

Following legal submissions from prosecutor Tim Hannam KC and defence counsel Gurdeep Garcha KC, Judge Avik Mukherjee remanded Allison into custody until the start of the trial on 28 October.

Mukherjee told the court the trial was likely to last for about 10 days.

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