A man who died after a “scuffle” was known to start playfights when he’d been drinking, but was not known to start serious fights, a manslaughter trial was told.
Witnesses from the day of an incident in Whitehouse gave evidence at the trial of Thomas Watchman, who is co-accused with a teenager of the manslaughter of Andrew Roche.
Watchman and the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, have denied the manslaughter of Mr Roche by punching him, following the incident in Waterford Road on July 25.
Steven Bird was with Roche on July 25 and told the court that they had been drinking with other friends at the Flying Horse pub. Mr Bird said he was “merry” but not as drunk as Mr Roche, who he estimated had “at least six pints”.
The court heard that Mr Roche was considered an alcoholic by his friends.
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Gareth Cook, a barman at the Flying Horse, said he had known Mr Roche since primary school. He said Mr Roche was known to playfight with people he did not know, saying: “He just jumps about and pretends to spar with people.”
However, Mr Cook said these playfights were meant only in jest, adding: “In all the years I’ve known Rochie, I have never known him to cause fights.”
Mr Bird described Mr Roche as a “happy, bubbly” person who “brought a smile to everyone’s face”. He had known Mr Roche for around a year before his death.
Mr Bird said he saw Mr Roche sparring with a “young lad”, but said they were playfighting with open hands. He described this as a “scuffle”.
A woman who observed the exchange said that at first, they seemed to be playfighting but then Roche began punching the boy to his face.
She said the boy appeared “scared” but then began to punch Roche back.
Mr Bird described the two as having “banter”, and said he later realised Roche and the boy did not know each other.
He added that he did not think Mr Roche should have been playfighting the boy.
As he and Mr Roche were walking away, he said the boy shouted, saying he would “get somebody his own age to come and fight him [Roche]”.
It is alleged that shortly afterwards, Thomas Watchman, 39 and of Wicklow Road, Ipswich, got out of a grey Volvo and punched Mr Roche to the head, with this followed by another punch to the head from the teenager.
Mr Roche died 17 days later on August 11.
The trial continues.
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