Jury hears how brain bleed led to fatality

THE jury in a murder trial were told by a neuropathologist that a brain bleed led to the death of a 50-yearold, after he suffered punches and kicks to his head.

- CARL EVE

Cowin Fuoco-Fisher, aged 25, and James Caswell, aged 28, both face trial for the murder of Stefan Shotton, following an incident which took place in the early hours of May 28 last year, outside the Co-operative store in Devonport Road, Stoke, Plymouth.

Mr Shotton was later taken to Derriford Hospital suffering from serious head injuries, including a bleed on the brain. Despite surgery, he never regained consciousness and died on June 6.

Opening the prosection case, Simon Jones told the jury at Plymouth Crown Court how FuocoFisher 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.

Dr Russell Delaney, a Home Office forensic pathologist, gave evidence about the various injuries suffered by Mr Shotton, including bruising to his eyelid, eye, chest, knee, shoulder, head, hip and ankle. He confirmed that a blood sample taken from Mr Shotton on May 28, when he was taken to Derriford Hospital, suggested that at the time he was assaulted he had around 164mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. He confirmed the drink-drive limit was 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, thus he would have been twice the drink-drive limit.