Trial jury hears how pub rows turned into violence

MURDER CHARGES DENIED

- CARL EVE

A JURY heard how a man who died outside a pub in Stoke, Plymouth, had already been warned off another man’s wife, after he had slapped the bottom of the girlfriend of one of his attackers.

Cowin Fuoco-Fisher, aged 25, and James Caswell, 28, are on trial for the murder of Stefan Shotton in the early hours of May 28 last year.

Mr Shotton was taken to Derriford Hospital, suffering serious head injuries, but never regained consciousness and died on June 6.

On the first day of the trial, prosecutor Simon Jones told the jury at Plymouth Crown Court how Fuoco-Fisher, of Stuart Road, Plymouth, and Caswell, of Tailyour Road, Plymouth, had intended to cause Mr Shotton serious harm when they attacked him, punching and kicking him to the head in a joint attack.

The jury had already seen footage showing Fuoco-Fisher and his girlfriend, Grace Walsh, encountering Mr Shotton, who he later told police he knew from the pubs in the area. Fuoco-Fisher was seen to approach Mr Shotton but, as he walked off with his girlfriend, Mr Shotton followed closely and at one point is seen to slap the right buttock of Ms Walsh, the court heard. A few seconds later, FuocoFisher turns and is seen to remonstrate with Mr Shotton for a period of time, occasionally being pulled away by Ms Walsh.