DCI Banks star told 'you've killed him, he's not breathing' after alleged punch

04 May 2023 , 12:02

775 0

The friend of a drunken man left with 'traumatic brain injuries' from a punch by Stephen Tompkinson told the court he heard a 'cracking'

Stephen Tompkinson was told 'You've killed him...he has stopped breathing' after he allegedly punched a drunken man outside his home, a court heard today.

The star was interviewed by police on May 30, 2021, the day that he was alleged to have punched Karl Poole, 48, in an altercation with him and his friend Andrew Hall.

"I went into the house afterwards to wash my hands and face and calmed down a bit," he said. "I saw Karl had not moved from the same position and I could hear Andrew saying 'You have killed him. He is not breathing."

He told officers that he 'had never punched anyone in his life' when they told him a neighbour had seen him throwing a punch at Poole after he had slapped him. In the interview, read to the court, he said that he could not afford to punch anyone 'because of his job'.

The friend of a drunken man left with 'traumatic brain injuries' allegedly from a punch by Mr Tompkinson heard a 'cracking' as it 'hit the flesh' but did not see him land the blow, a court also heard today.

Actor Stephen Tompkinson arrives at court to stand trial over GBH allegations

DCI Banks star told 'you've killed him, he's not breathing' after alleged punch

Stephen Tompkinson's trial continues today (PA)

The TV star is alleged to have struck Karl Poole - who was dressed 'only in his underpants' after a dawn dip in the sea - as he made his way back to the home of Andrew Hall, Newcastle crown court was told.

Mr Hall said the pair had been drinking vodka and Jagermeister from around midnight until 4am on May 30, 2021 before going to see the sunrise on the beach in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

They were making their way back past the nearby home of Mr Tompkinson when he came out to complain about the noise and they ended up in a confrontation on the driveway at around 5.30am, the jury heard.

Mr Hall said he had dropped behind Mr Poole, 48, as they walked along but caught up and told Mr Tompkinson that he was a social worker in a bid to 'calm things down'.

Tompkinson is alleged to have left Mr Poole with 'traumatic brain injuries' (PA)

He added: "We managed to get onto the path and had left the property by that point. Initially the man remained on his drive and then he came walking over.

"I heard the hit of flesh and Karl rapidly hit the floor. It was the same person who was on the drive. I did not see it but I heard that sound.

"It was the speed, the velocity, the sound when he hit the ground so it was obvious what happened. It was a cracking (sound) as he hit the ground."

He added: "Mr Poole was knocked out. He was snoring. I have done some training in the past and I know that can represent a serious head injury. I did panic, and I asked the man to call the police and ambulance, to call someone."

Mr Hall said that Mr Tompkinson later "showed some humanity and remorse", and was seen "with his head in his hands" by the roadside.

A 999 call made by Mr Hall was also played to the jury in which he told the operator that his friend had been assaulted and was 'snoring' but otherwise unresponsive.

TV detective 'left drunk man with brain injuries after noise row punch'

The jury was shown an image of Mr Poole as he lay flat out on his back by the roadside with Mr Hall at his side. Under cross examination, Mr Hall said that he had not heard the sound of the blow 'hitting flesh' and confirmed that was not in his original police statement, taken on the day of the incident.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said that Tompkinson had confronted Poole because he was 'angry' at the noise from the two men so early on a Sunday morning.

He told the jury yesterday: "This defendant, angry at the noise the two men were making, ended up punching one of them, knocking him to the floor so that he banged his head and sustained traumatic brain injuries.

"The defendant claims he did not more than push away the man in self-defence after the two had come towards him." Tompkinson told police he had gone out to ask the two men to move on, so they didn't disturb his partner and her child, who were asleep in the house.

The actor denies the charge of GBH (PA)

Stephen Tompkinson 'showed some remorse' after the incident, a witness said (PA)

But Mr Bunch added: "This claim of aggressive behaviour by the two men is simply not supported by any of the evidence. The defendant’s story is nothing more than a weak attempt by him to deflect blame onto others for his wholly unjustified aggressive actions."

Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said that Mr Poole had been 'drinking solidly' from around 8pm the night before the incident, including pints of vodka with bitter lemon while watching the Champions League final between Man City and Chelsea.

He was 'three and a half times over the drink drive limit' at 7.30 am in hospital, two hours after the alleged attack. In evidence to the jury, Mr Poole said he was 'in and out of consciousness' for several days in hospital. He had 'no recollection whatsoever' of what happened.