Man died from alleged 'one punch' after stepping aside to maintain social distancing from stranger, trial hears

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A man died after being punched to the face after he stepped to the side to ‘maintain social distancing’ from a stranger, a trial has heard.

Joseph Henderson, aged 53, was walking along Wilmslow Road when Oscar Shepherd caught up to him, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Mr Henderson stepped to one side to allow him to pass, but seconds later he was allegedly punched in the face, and fell backwards, hitting the back of his head. READ MORE: Student police officer in Manchester charged with sexual assault Eight days later he sadly died as a result of the impact to his brain, the court heard.

Mr Shepherd, of Wythenshawe, has pleaded not guilty to an offence of manslaughter. Prosecutor Rob Hall said the incident took place at approximately 5.09pm on August 12 of last year when both Mr Henderson, and Mr Shepherd, 20, were walking in the same direction along Wilmslow Road in Withington. “Mr Shepherd caught up with Mr Henderson as Mr Henderson was walking,” he told the jury. “My Henderson stood back to let Mr Shepherd come past to maintain some social distancing. “There followed an interaction between these two men which lasted for a period of seconds and resulted in Mr Shepherd punching Mr Henderson in the face. “They were strangers up until this moment. “The force of Mr Shepherd’s punch caused Mr Henderson to fall straight backwards without putting his hands out to break his fall.” The court heard that Mr Henderson’s head impacted with the pavement. “The Crown say the force used by Mr Shepherd upon Mr Henderson was unlawful and so Mr Shepherd is guilty of manslaughter,” Mr Hall continued. “It may be suggested that Mr Shepherd, by using that force, was acting lawfully in the sense he was acting in self defence, therefore