Man denies murder over 'bar punch' death

A man has denied murdering a businessman who died after he was reportedly punched at a bar.

Billy Allison, 36, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Matthew O'Gara and causing grievous bodily harm at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday.

O'Gara, a pub director, died in hospital two days after police were called to reports of two men being punched at the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street, Lichfield, on 24 May.

Allison, of Cropthorne Road in Shirley, Solihull, appeared at the court hearing via a video-link, wearing a round neck grey Nike sweater.

Following legal submissions from prosecutor Tim Hannam KC and defence counsel Gurdeep Garcha KC, Judge Avik Mukherjee remanded Allison into custody until the start of the trial on 28 October.

Mukherjee told the court the trial was likely to last for about 10 days.

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