O'Neills pub murder case continues at Old Bailey

A bouncer killed a customer on his first shift at O'Neills pub, opposite Ealing Green, after being called a 'jobsworth' a court has been told.

Kevin Griffith, 30, punched Nicholas Padget, 27, in 'anger and frustration', the Old Bailey heard.

Prosecuting, Sarah Whitehouse, said Mr Padget and schoolfriends had been drinking at a pub in Chiswick before heading to Ealing on June 30, and switching from lager to vodka.

By closing time at 1am Mr Padget was "wandering around the bar chatting to people," said Miss Whitehouse, and "couldn't really string together a sentence."

Griffith claims Mr Padget called him a 'jobsworth' and a 'w***er'. CCTV footage showed 6ft 2in Griffith asking Mr Padget to leave and then physically removing him in an armlock.

Griffith was not fully licensed as a doorman, but had just completed a Security Industry Authority course - now the legal prerequisite to being employed as a bouncer - and was doing his very first shift for SSI security at the pub when Mr Padget and his three friends came in.

One witness said Mr Padget had given the bouncer 'a cheeky slap'. Another described him  'brushing' Griffith's face with the palm of his hand.

The retaliation that ensued had tragic results -  Mr Padget, from Chiswick, died in intensive care at Ealing Hospital on July 2 last year.

Griffith denies manslaughter. The trial continues.

March 15, 2007