One-punch pub death: Bradley Peter Cooper to claim self-defence

A Maroochydore pub patron who died in a one-punch attack would have been almost five to six times over the legal driving limit, a Brisbane court has heard, with the accused’s to claim self-defence.

Bradley Cooper on the first day of his trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court, charged with one count of unlawful striking causing death. Picture: Liam Kidston

A Maroochydore man accused of killing another pub patron in a one-punch attack will argue he was acting in self-defence when he struck the man.

Bradley Peter Cooper, 33, pleaded not guilty on the first day of his Brisbane Supreme Court trial on Monday to one charge of unlawful striking causing death.

Crown Prosecutor David Nardone said it would be alleged Cooper struck a “very drunk” Darren Young, who had been asked to leave the Maroochydore Hotel on the evening of December 18, 2020.

The court heard it would be alleged Mr Young fell backwards and hit his head on the ground.

He suffered a fractured skull and brain injuries and died three days later in hospital.

Mr Nardone said security footage taken from the hotel on the night of the alleged attack would be played to the jury, showing the interactions between the two men who were unknown to each other.

He said during the trial, the hotel’s general manager would be called to give evidence about Mr Young, whom he would describe as a “regular” and someone who would become a “drunk pest” and become “annoying to other patrons”.

On the night of his death, Mr Young’s estimated blood-alcohol content would have been between .241 per cent to .310 per cent.

“That’s almost five to six times over the legal driving limit,” Mr Nardone said.

The prosecutor said on the night of the incident, hotel staff had removed Mr Young from the venue and that the defendant Cooper took it upon himself to get involved in encouraging him to leave.

It’s alleged both the defendant and Mr Young had left the venue and were walking down a nearby road when the alleged attack happened.

Mr Cooper’s barrister said the crucial incident between the men had unfolded in “unpredictable” circumstances.

He said the Crown could not exclude the possibility that his client’s behaviour was reasonable in the circumstances he faced that night.

The trial continues before Justice Lincoln Crowley.

Originally published as One-punch pub death: Bradley Peter Cooper to claim self-defence