A MAN died after being hit by a single punch from a taxi driver who had been hired out on a bogus call, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

A jury was told by Stephen Ashurst, prosecuting, that while the Crown accepted Mazhar Ali had not intended to kill Colin Arnold, he had acted unlawfully by using unnecessary violence.

Mr Ali, 26, formerly of Park Road, Stockton, but now living in Forestgate in London, denies the manslaughter of 34-year-old Mr Arnold, of Sadberge Road, Stockton.

Mr Ashurst said that, in the early hours of New Year's Day, Mr Arnold had been celebrating at a family party in Brignall Road, Stockton, when Mr Ali arrived to pick up a fare - but was told no one had called a cab.

The taxi driver lost his temper, and when Mr Arnold stepped outside for some fresh air, Mr Ali hit him with a single punch. He fell to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement.

He said that Mr Ali then told those inside: "I've knocked him over. He's drunk. You'd better pick him up," and then drove off.

Paramedics judged that Mr Arnold died almost instantly when his head hit the ground.

Giving evidence, Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Cooper said the cause of death was a combination of the injury to the head and the amount of alcohol consumed by Mr Arnold, estimated to be the equivalent of three times the legal drink-drive limit.

Mr Ali, said Mr Ashurst, gave himself up to police two days later, maintaining he acted in self-defence, hitting out only when the other man grabbed him while making a racist remark.

The case continues.