KEY POINTS:
A row over a packet of pistachio nuts led to a New Zealand man being beaten to death outside an Sydney pub, a court has been told.
Damien Peter Hopper, 29, is on trial for murdering John Hunui Tamapeau, 25, a security guard, outside a Mortdale hotel in southern Sydney in April 2005.
The New South Wales Supreme Court was told that Mr Tamapeau died from head injuries after being repeatedly punched by Hopper.
The accused had been out celebrating with teammates from a St George region rugby league team when his group encountered Mr Tamapeau, and his flatmate and brother-in-law, William McColl.
Mr McColl bought a packet of pistachio nuts from a late-night store, and outside the pub, Hopper asked if he could have some nuts.
Mr McColl told him to go and buy his own, but Hopper persisted. When Mr Tamapeau stepped in to help his friend, Hopper ripped his shirt off ready to fight and shouted at him: "I should just smash you."
Hopper swung a punch at Mr Tamapeau who fell over, hitting his head on the ground with a "thud".
"The accused jumped on top of him and hit him in the face about eight to 10 times," Mr McColl told the jury.
He said Mr Tamapeau was lying on the floor with his arms by his sides as Hopper kneeled over him during the attack.
Hopper's barrister, Tania Evers, said the fall onto the concrete caused the fatal skull fracture.
- NZPA
