Bet row death man admits attack

A 37-year-old gambler who denied manslaughter after a betting shop manager died following a row has admitted attacking him.

Jeffrey Hilland, 52, of South Moor, Stanley, Co Durham, who managed Pagebet betting shop in Front Street, Pelton, died of a heart attack on 6 June.

Trevor Hall, of Hilda Terrace, Chester-le-Street, denied his manslaughter at Newcastle Crown Court in October.

On Monday he admitted affray, which was accepted by the court.

The hearing heard how Mr Hilland refused to accept a late bet from Hall on a greyhound race.

Realising he had lost out, Hall, who had been drinking heavily, threw "the first of many punches" at Mr Hilland when the race had finished, Christopher Knox, prosecuting, said.

His victim died in hospital four days later, the hearing heard.

Reasonable doubt

Mr Knox said: "The defendant was very put out because the deceased declined to accept a bet, and as a result, the defendant felt he missed the opportunity of winning about £60.

"There was then an altercation and a dispute."

The manslaughter charge was dropped because prosecutors were unable to prove Mr Hilland's heart attack had not already started when he was attacked by Hall.

Speaking outside court, Chris Enzor, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Durham, said: "For us to continue with the manslaughter prosecution we would have to be sure beyond reasonable doubt that it was the physical assault rather than the earlier argument between Hall and Mr Hilland that caused the heart failure."

Hall, who is on bail, will be sentenced on 2 February.