Murder accused 'left punch victim unconscious'

A man facing a murder charge punched his victim to the ground and left him unconscious, a court heard today.

Dale Kelly, aged 34, allegedly attacked Peter Gamble at a house in Larne, Co Antrim, before telling a woman “you look after him”.

Mr Gamble, aged 35, of Station Road in the town, was found dead at an address in the Roddens area on Tuesday.

As Kelly, also from the Roddens, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court a dispute emerged over the state pathologist’s findings.

Although only one blow to the victim was suspected, the report pointed to at least one other kick, the accused’s solicitor said.

A detective sergeant said it was a complex issue, with a number of injuries found on the body.

He said: “At the time of arrest the defendant said he had punched the accused and the accused had fallen and hit his head.”

The lawyer for Kelly, who denies murder, claimed his client left Mr Gamble in the care of another person and that an ambulance was not called until hours later.

Challenged over this version of events, the officer told the court the incident happened at 1.30am.

After allegedly hitting his victim, Kelly told a woman to take care of him, the court was told.

The detective said: “He allegedly left the deceased lying unconscious on the hall floor and in the care of another person.”

Before he was remanded in custody to appear again at Antrim Court on August 17 via video link, Kelly’s solicitor spoke of his regret at what had happened.

With relatives of the dead man in the public gallery, he said: “I have nothing further to say except an expression of absolute remorse on the part of the accused that this tragic event has taken place.”