Bashing victim Stephen Byrne could be "quite haughty" when drunk, a jury in the High Court at Auckland was told yesterday.
Mr Byrne was found in a pool of blood in Fort Lane with serious head injuries about 6.30 am on March 24.
Andrew Poki, aged 26 at the time, and Phillip Taylor, both of Papakura, are accused of attempting to murder Mr Byrne, causing him grievous bodily harm, and robbery.
Taylor, aged 19 at the time of the offence, has admitted being a party to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm, but the Crown, represented by Brian Dickey, says that is not enough.
The jury has heard that Mr Byrne often visited the late-night Fu Bar in Queen St.
Bar worker Mahoney Swinburn said Mr Byrne was "reasonably intoxicated" when he left about 6 am, but he was never any trouble.
Cross-examined by Poki's lawyer, Chris Comeskey, she agreed she told police that Mr Byrne could be "quite obnoxious" when drunk.
But in court yesterday, she said he was perhaps haughty - a milder form of obnoxious.
Mahoney Swinburn told police Mr Byrne was a very "camp," flamboyant type, but never came on to other men.
The bar owner, Daniel Gibbons, agreed with Taylor's lawyer, Steve Cullen, that he had told police Mr Byrne was a "cocky gay guy" when drunk, though he did not recall using those words.
"What I meant was that he did not have any problems going up and talking to people," he told the jury.
Witnesses have said they saw Mr Byrne with two men in the inner city.
Surveillance videos showed Taylor and Poki going into Fort Lane, followed soon after by Mr Byrne.
Consultant neuro-radiologist Dr John Hope told the jury that Mr Byrne's head injuries were similar to those seen in high-speed car crashes, falls off buildings or being hit with a baseball bat.
The Crown says Mr Byrne was stomped on.
Neuro-surgeon Dr Andrew Law said he had to remove part of Mr Byrne's brain to save his life.
The trial before Justice Colin Nicholson continues today.
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