Football fan accused of killing man with one punch

A football fan has been accused of killing a man with one punch outside a convenience store the night before a Premier League match, a court heard.

Lewis MacLeod, 36, travelled to London from the North East on 12 September for a game between Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

In the early hours of 13 September, MacLeod was said to have delivered "a forceful punch" to Michael Edwards, from Warwickshire, outside a shop on Borough High Street.

Edwards died in hospital four days later. MacLeod denies manslaughter.

MacLeod, from Sunderland, travelled to stay with his friend, and they started drinking at a pub near Kings Cross Station at about16:00 BST, Inner London Crown Court was told on Monday.

Just after midnight, they took a taxi to Elephant and Castle and continued drinking.

Edwards, 43, was also drinking in the area, celebrating a friend's birthday.

"From analysis of all of the footage of the various pubs, it can be established that both the defendant and Mr Edwards had been drinking alcohol throughout the evening," said prosecutor Philip Evans.

"There is also evidence that both men were using cocaine."

Jurors were shown footage of MacLeod trying to shake hands with Edwards, and then trying repeatedly to touch his groin, which Edwards batted away.

Further CCTV shown in court, a few minutes later, showed MacLeod, wearing white shorts and a zip-up hoodie, throwing a punch which connected with the right side of Edwards' head.

Edwards could then be seen falling backwards onto the street and hitting his head, and there was blood on the pavement when he was moved, jurors heard.

MacLeod has previously admitted a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm against another man, for punching him while he checked on Edwards.

The trial continues.

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