ADAM Parkes has gone on trial for the murder of Eusebio Hough outside The Red Admiral Pub.

He allegedly stopped his car when one of Mr Hough's acquaintances walked on to the road, then battered Mr Hough to death in a rage.

The 23-year-old from Castle Rise denies murder and manslaughter.

Parkes has told police he was attacked first - and the court heard that a weak artery in Mr Hough's head could have played a part in the death.

Miss Elwen Evans QC outlined the case against Parkes at Chester Crown Court on Monday.

She said Mr Hough, known as 'Seb', had met two acquaintances called Gary Shaw and Phillip Ellis shortly after all three left Chino's nightclub in the early hours of November 6.

They were in Boston Avenue when Parkes drove up.

"The defendant stopped his car. He appeared to be angry and he appeared to be aggressive," said Ms Evans.

Ms Evans said Parkes, a former pub doorman, punched Phillip Ellis through the open window then got out and began punching 28-year-old Mr Hough.

And she said a witness near the pub, Sarah Antley, saw Parkes pick up Mr Hough's head as he lay on the ground and hit him again so his head fell to the floor.

"She then saw him deliver a powerful punch with the force of his body behind it before she saw him walk off," said Ms Evans.

Mr Hough was left in a coma. He was pronounced brain dead two days later.

Miss Evans said the force of the blows may have ruptured a weak artery in Mr Hough's brain, or high blood pressure may have ruptured it.

She said Parkes is responsible for the death in either case.

The defence will call medical experts to give their views.

Ms Evans said that when Parkes was arrested, he told police he only stopped his car because two men blocked the road.

John Shorrock QC, representing Parkes, said Shaw and Ellis had been behaving like "two drunken yobbos, wandering into the road" - Mr Shaw denied this and said he'd only stepped into the road.

Parkes also told police Mr Ellis had lunged at him, and that he only punched Mr Hough twice in self defence after the victim ran at him and caught him a glancing blow to the head.

The case continues