Man in court charged with manslaughter over punch death
Tony Miskimmon died a number of days after being punched in Antrim town
- Published
A man previously charged with attacking a pensioner appeared in court on Tuesday charged with his manslaughter.
Marcus Fleming, 21, appeared by videolink at Antrim Magistrates' Court, as a prosecuting lawyer confirmed that 74-year-old Tony Miskimmon had died and 鈥渁 manslaughter charge is to be laid against the defendant".
Mr Fleming, who has an address at Cedarmount in Antrim, confirmed that he understood the charge.
A police officer testified that she believed she could connect him to the offence and the defence barrister confirmed he was not taking any issue with that.
Earlier this month, Mr Fleming was charged with causing grievous bodily harm on 2 November and causing criminal damage.
He was further charged with attempted criminal damage to a police cell and vehicle on the same date.
'One punch in the face'
A police officer told the court that at 19:32 GMT on 2 November an ambulance crew alerted police that a man had been assaulted and was unconscious and bleeding heavily outside Antrim Primary School.
A female witness said she had seen a man punching the pensioner in the face, causing him to fall.
When police spoke to the defendant at the front door of a property 鈥渂lood was coming from his nose鈥, the court heard.
The police officer said that during Mr Fleming's arrest he been irate and 鈥渋n an agitated state鈥 as he was 鈥渒icking and head butting the cell doors".
Despite warnings, Mr Fleming allegedly spat and urinated inside the cell van and during police interviews.
Mr Fleming admitted punching the pensioner but claimed he acted in self-defence after being struck.
'Extremely remorseful'
Mr Fleming maintained that he had been hit first 鈥渟o he had hit him back鈥 but the court also heard that Mr Fleming had been remorseful and 鈥渦pset by the level of injury鈥 sustained by the 74-year-old.
Mr Miskimmon died four days after the assault.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the charge alleging manslaughter 鈥渋s a significant development".
The prosecution asked for the case to be adjourned for a month 鈥渇or an update on the full file".
Mr Fleming was remanded in custody to appear again on Christmas Eve.