A former fireman from Worcestershire caused severe brain damage to a wedding guest in a fight at a reception in Herefordshire, a court has been told.
Jason Halling, 29, of Firs Orchard, Bromyard, denies murdering 47-year-old Kevin Smith on New Year’s Day in 2009.
The pair were related to the bride and groom and were guests at a New Year’s Eve reception at Sapey Golf Club.
The prosecution said Mr Halling inflicted fatal injuries on the farmer in a fight on a balcony at the venue.
Timothy Raggatt QC, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday that Mr Halling had caused 30 separate injuries, including swelling and bleeding on the brain, which caused Mr Smith to have a number of strokes.
Two days later Mr Smith’s life support machine was switched off.
The pair had been celebrating the marriage of Mr Smith’s nephew Ryan to Mr Halling’s sister Gemma, who were married in the previous autumn in Barbados.
