‘Sickening thud’: Witness describes alleged fatal punch attack

A witness who was outside the Cairns bar when Trinity Beach tradie Brett Thomson was allegedly fatally punched has described watching him fall “limp” to the ground.

A PEDICAB driver has described seeing a man fall “limp” to the ground after being punched in the face and landing with a “sickening thud”, in a Cairns court.

Ryan Hill told the Cairns Supreme Court he was waiting outside the Pier Bar on July 5, 2019 when he saw a fight break out between a group of up to 12 people just before 11pm.

He described watching two men swing at each other and miss, before one of them delivered a punch which connected with the other man’s face and he collapsed to the ground.

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“He looked like he was out before he hit the ground,” Mr Hill said.

“When he hit the ground his head hit the road.

“It was just a pretty sickening thud to hear. Just an echoing thud.

“He just went limp, (I) could see a blank expression.”

Trinity Beach tradesman Brett Thomson, 32, died in Cairns Hospital four days later, while Trinity Park apprentice electrician Timothy John England, 21, is charged with unlawful striking causing death.

He pleaded not guilty prior to the start of his trial on Wednesday.

The court has heard it was alleged Mr Thomson said obscenities to Mr England’s sister prior to the altercation.

Mr Thomson’s housemate Rory Mangan-Smith, who was out with him that night, said the pair and a third friend had been drinking and shared a bag of cocaine before coming out.

He said he didn’t know what had caused the altercation, but “tried to stop it” and was holding Mr Thomson back.

“It just felt like to me he wanted to fight,” he said.

“As soon as I let go of Thommo he went towards the other fella.

“All I remember is someone with a white shirt hit Thommo from behind.

“He just dropped limp onto the road.”

Under cross examination by defence barrister Tony Kimmins, Mr Mangan-Smith conceded he had seen Mr Thomson hit strangers three times before.

“He would stick up for his mates,” he said.

The trial continues.

Originally published as ‘Sickening thud’: Witness describes alleged fatal punch attack