Computer game ended in death

TRAGIC . . . Tony Sellars

A FRIENDLY computer game session spiralled into tragedy when a punch caused the death of a dad-to-be, a court heard.

Ryan Hobin (20), of Glebe Street, Chadderton, stood in the dock at Manchester Crown Court yesterday accused of the manslaughter of Tony Sellars (26).

He denies the charge, saying he acted in self-defence, and in police interviews claimed Mr Sellars threw several punches at him and he struck back once.

Alan Conrad QC, prosecuting, said: “It’s the Crown’s case the defendant punched Mr Sellars causing him to go to the ground, hitting his head on the road resulting in injury.

“Even if Mr Sellars was argumentative and aggressive, even if he wanted a fight, there was no need for Mr Hobin to get involved.”

When police asked him “could you not have walked away?” he admitted he could have and that he kicked Mr Sellars while he lay prone on the ground — with witnesses saying he kicked out three times, one hitting the victim in the head.

Mr Hobin called for an ambulance but told the operator a man had fallen over and banged his head on the ground.

Mr Sellars, of Fitton Hill, suffered a fractured skull and brain injury consistent with a blow to the face and hard impact on the ground and died two days later in hospital.

Mr Conrad told the court the incident happened on October 18 last year when Mr Hobin joined a group of work colleagues and friends who gathered once a month to play football computer game tournaments for money while drinking lager.

Martin Gibson hosted the evening at his South Croft home in Fitton Hill while his wife Rachel watched TV upstairs with their three children.

It had been enjoyable with friendly banter between the five men present but the mood changed when Mr Sellars began goading Mr Hobin.

He reacted angrily after being told by others to stop and on leaving in the early hours grabbed Mr Hobin’s face and squeezed it, saying “it’s a good job your mates are here.”

Mr Conrad said all the men went outside where Mr Sellars called Mr Hobin offensive names.

Mr Gibson, giving evidence, said Mr Sellars had been needling Mr Hobin but becoming louder and more aggressive while Mr Hobin seemed to stay calm. Mr Sellars had drunk around 10 cans of lager, while Mr Hobin had drunk around seven.

He said his brother Peter Gibson and work colleague Wayne Marshalsea had tried to calm the situation down outside.

Under cross examination by Douglas Hogg QC, defending, he accepted that Mr Sellars was the most drunk, he had been trying to get on Mr Hobin’s nerves and seemed to be picking a fight. He had felt sorry for Mr Hobin. Mr Sellars had been the aggressor, had walked away twice but came back, had beckoned at Mr Hobin to fight him.

Mr Gibson did not see any punches thrown as he went back into his house to ensure his wife and children stayed inside.

He said his wife later gave Mr Hobin antiseptic wipes, as he had blood on his face and hands, and he seemed scared as he told her “I could get done for manslaughter.”

(The case continues)