Doorman 'killed man with one hit'

A doorman and former boxing champion killed a man with a single punch, the Old Bailey has heard.

Paul Price, 23, was on a night out with a friend at a hotel in Woodford, east London, when he was allegedly struck so hard, he was lifted off the ground.

Garry Delaney had been asked to remove Mr Price and his friend from a bar after refusing them entry to an over-35s disco, the jury heard.

Mr Delaney, 35, of Newham, east London, denies murdering Mr Price last October.

'Serious harm'

When told to remove the pair, Mr Delaney appeared to spray something over Mr Price's friend, causing him to scream before dragging him into some bushes outside, the court heard.

"Paul Price saw what happened and went outside to remonstrate verbally with the defendant," said Alan Suckling, prosecuting.

"Delaney was seen to hit him in the face with an uppercut. It lifted him off the ground."

The court heard the blow caused Mr Price to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground.

Mr Delaney had been a boxer in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions, who would have known such a deliberate blow was likely to cause serious harm, the court heard.

The trial continues.