A Huddersfield man punched keen horserider Jake Rainton without any provocation and then walked off before the victim died, a court has heard.
Ryan Patient, 25, is standing trial at Leeds Crown Court charged with manslaughter. Jake, 23, from Golcar, died in July last year after he was punched while on a night out in Cross Church Street. Jake – a keen horse rider – was taken to Leeds General Infirmary but it was found he had received a “catastrophic brain injury” and treatment was withdrawn.
Prosecutor Michelle Colborne KC opened the trial to jurors on Tuesday, and told them that Mr Patient and Jake were both on separate nights out on July 15 and that neither were known to each other.
Read more: Live: Trial updates as Huddersfield man Ryan Patient accused of killing Jake Rainton
She said that both had been inside Truth nightclub and Mr Patient – who was out with his brother and a group of friends – had left with them to go to a takeaway shop and wait for a taxi.
Jake was also been out with a group of his friends and was spotted by a member of Mr Patient’s group. Ms Colbourne said: “A man [from Mr Patient’s group] had their attention drawn to the deceased and two of his friends. They thought that group of three were arguing. They were noisy, calling one another names and pushing one another.
“It is likely they were being silly in drink. Having seen what he thought was trouble unfolding he shouted at the deceased to stop. He [Jake] and his friend shouted back they were friends and the man’s girlfriend told him to let it be.”
The court heard Jake and his friend crossed the street to join the man. Ms Colbourne said: “Neither one touched one another or used any violence or on audio of what we can perceive, threatened any violence to one another.”
(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
It was said Mr Patient’s friend tried to “diffuse” the situation as Jake wanted to know why they were shouting. Ms Colborne said Mr Patient and his brother arrived and were told by his friends to “go away” but he “did the opposite.”
She said: “Without warning or provocation he punched the deceased, connecting with his jaw, knocking off his feet. He hit the shutters behind him as he fell, lifeless, striking his head again.
“The fact he didn’t try to break his fall suggests the defendant punched him with force. You may think he was already unconscious when he hit the floor.”
The court heard that Jake’s friend Amber saw the punch and “pushed the defendant away.” Ms Colborne said that a friend of Mr Patient “heard a noise” as Jake fell against the shutters.” She was told by another friend that Mr Patient “punched that lad.”
CCTV of before and during the incident was played to jurors. One piece featured a man not involved, who was later seen with Mr Patient, who walked away.
(Image: Reach PLC)
Ms Colbourne said: “Without warning or provocation he punched the decased, connecting with his jaw, knocking off his feet. He hit the shutters behind him as he fell, lifeless, striking his head again.
“The fact he didn’t try to break his fall suggests the defendant punched him with force. You may think he was already unconscious when he hit the floor.”
The court heard that as he walked down Cross Church Street, the man seen on CCTV who had not been involved was again seen and “patted the shoulders” of Mr Patient. Speaking of the defendant, Ms Colbourne said: “The prosecution say at that stage he didn’t regret his actions…Neither appearing frightened or remorseful after the punch landed.”
A call, it was said, was then made to the emergency services. This call was played to the court and Ms Colbourne said an ambulance arrived at 4.09am. She added: “It was discovered Jake Rainton was in a serious condition. He was transported to Leeds General and was diagnosed with a catastrophic brain injury and despite the best efforts of those concerned was unsurvivable.
“After consultation a decision was made to withdraw treatment and after 4pm he subsequently died.”
The court has heard an investigation began and witnesses saw the defendant punch the deceased.
“The prosecution say it was the force of that punch that caused the deceased to fall backwards, hit the shutters and fall to the floor, banging his head on the ground,” Ms Colborne said.
It was said that Jake suffered a fracture to the skull measuring 9cm in length, bleeding to the surface of the brain and also bruising to his face, consistent with being punched.
Mr Patient had been arrested from his mother’s address on July 17, jurors were told, and interviewed twice. The court heard that in his first interview he stated that he was in Huddersfield town centre for a stag do and had “around six or seven drinks” and rated himself as “a four out of 10” when questioned how drunk he was.
He told officers that while waiting outside for a taxi he saw Jake fighting with a female over the road, and that he saw him push her. He also said he thought Jake “could have” slapped her.
(Image: Submitted)
Mr Patient said his friend shouted “Leave her alone and calm down” before Jake and the woman disappeared, before reappearing and crossing the road, shouting: “Who do you think you are telling us to calm down.”
Ms Colbourne said: “The defendant claimed he was frightened of this interaction for himself and his friend and in fear threw a punch with his right hand. He stated he didn’t mean to cause any damage.
“He claimed due to fear of someone of Mr Rainton’s group of friends chasing him he went to his mother’s house, went to sleep and woke the next day.”
During a second interview, footage was played to Mr Patient and he was asked who he was in fear of.
Ms Colborne said: “He said: ‘From looking at the video is a different feeling. On the night there was lots of shouting and aggressiveness.’ He was asked if it was three people against one with Mr Rainton stood by himself and he said ‘It looks like that.'”
When asked about him leaving the scene, the prosecution said: “He again started, ‘The video and the feeling on the night are different things.”
The court has been told that Mr Patient said he “didn’t know” what happened to his friends and he “just wanted to go home.”
He told officers: “I didn’t mean to cause harm.”
Ms Colborne said the prosecution understands Mr Patient will claim the punch he delivered was in reasonable self defence or defence of his friends. She said: “There are two elements of self defence or another. Firstly, the defendant must honestly believe it is necessary to defend himself or another and secondly the force he used must be reasonable in all of the circumstances.
“All the prosecution says is in the circumstances shown on footage and in the accounts of witnesses he could not have believed it was necessary for him to defend himself or others and his actions in punching Jake to the face is unlawful and he is guilty of manslaughter.”
The trial continues.
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