Court hears details of man's death

A Lower Hutt man, accused of killing a 76-year-old man by deliberately kicking him off his push bike, went on trial today.

Todd Young, 24, tiler, pleaded not guilty in the High Court in Wellington to the manslaughter of William McEwen or an alternative charge of causing him grievous body harm with reckless disregard for his safety.

Young had been drinking all day at a Christmas work party on December 12, 2008 and was heading to a liquor store to buy more alcohol with two friends when he came across Mr McEwen biking home from Petone Workingmen's Club, prosecutor Jo Murdoch told the court.

Young kicked Mr McEwen's bike, causing him to fall off and fracture his nose, right collar bone, and three ribs, and suffer bleeding to his brain.

Mr McEwen died from a brain haemorrhage six days later.

Young, who had previously served in the armed forces in Afghanistan, continued walking towards the liquor store, allegedly telling two witnesses, "I kicked his bike", Ms Murdoch said.

Defence lawyer Donald Stevens, QC said that Young did not deliberately kick Mr McEwen's bike and said the incident was an unfortunate accident.

He said the two had collided by accident and Young should be found not guilty of both charges.

- NZPA