The trial of two men accused of carrying out an attack on a festival worker has seen the jury discharged.
Andrew Main died in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh after the alleged incident in Swansea city centre in July. Joseph Dix, 26, and Macauley Ruddock, 27, allegedly continued to assault him as he lay unconscious and ‘defenceless’ on the floor, reports Wales Online.
The pair both deny the murder of Mr Main. Opening the trial on Tuesday, prosecution barrister David Elias KC told the jury both Dix and Ruddock had been staying at the same Travelodge Hotel as Mr Main on the night of the alleged assault but the defendants had not known the alleged victim beforehand.
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All three men had been staying and working in the Swansea area. The court heard that in the early hours of July 17, “fighting broke out” outside the Travelodge hotel on Princess Way involving the defendants Dix and Ruddock, Mr Main and a friend of Mr Main by the name of Michael Bell.
The four men had returned to the hotel after spending the evening in different Swansea pubs, before all meeting for the first time in Coyote Ugly and returning to their accommodation in two separate groups. Describing the defendants as the aggressors on the night in question, Mr Elias said both men “took exception” to Mr Main and Mr Bell talking to a female guest at the hotel, Hannah Tedstone, who Dix and Ruddock had been speaking to earlier in the evening.
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During the alleged attack, Mr Elias said Mr Main was “chased away” from the hotel by the defendants. It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Main was knocked out by a punch from behind by Dix, before both Dix and Ruddock repeatedly punched the stricken man to the head and face as he lay on the ground.
Mr Main never recovered consciousness and died in hospital some four weeks later. Mr Elias said: “The prosecution say both these defendants are responsible for a joint attack on Andrew Main and the fact they continued to assault him as he lay unconscious on the floor clearly demonstrates their intention to cause him really serious harm. They are, the prosecution say, guilty of his murder.”
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Following his death, Mr Main’s sister, Nikki Main, paid tribute to the 33-year-old. She described her brother as “adored by family and friends and beloved by more” and added: “He will forever live in our hearts and memories. He was a witty man with a huge heart – loyal to the core. He was a fabulous brother, fun uncle, and supportive daddy to his two children.
“There will never be anyone like Andrew. The hole that has been left in our hearts will never be filled. Everyone in our community has been grief-stricken, but we have rallied together as one at this sad time.”
Joseph Dix, of Frome, Somerset, and Macauley Ruddock, of Bath, were arrested in connection with the alleged assault and initially charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm before being charged with murder following Mr Main’s death. The pair deny murder and are on trial at Swansea Crown Court.
The trial, before Judge Paul Thomas KC, is expected to last two weeks. A new jury is now expected to be selected.