Man Accused of Fatal Dancefloor Punch Says He Is 'Really Sorry'

Billy Allison, 36, has admitted to delivering a fatal punch to Matthew O'Gara, 44, at the Ricco and Loren bar in Lichfield on 24 May, but denies the charge of murder. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and grievous bodily harm against O'Gara's friend, Adam Cooper.

Stafford Crown Court heard that Allison delivered a "very, very hard" punch to the pub owner with the "stance and skill of an experienced fighter".

Giving evidence, Allison said he was "just really sorry for what I did that night and really sorry my actions caused the end of someone's life". He denied that the attack was carried out with intent, stating he did not intend to cause serious injury or death to the victims.

O'Gara was rendered unconscious by the punch to his neck and died in hospital two days later. Allison said he was "not really sure" what his intentions were when he hit the victim, describing it as a "bit of a grey area".

The prosecution has described the attack as "unprovoked and senseless", stating that O'Gara had his back to Allison and was "completely oblivious" before being punched. The force of the punch was loud enough to be heard over the bar's music and caused a haemorrhage at the base of O'Gara's brain, resulting in a cardiac arrest.

The court also heard details of Allison's previous offences, including a 2007 caution for criminal damage, an 18-year-old conviction for occasioning actual bodily harm, and a 2009 offence of racially or religiously aggravated alarm or distress. Allison is expected to continue his evidence on Wednesday morning.