A family man was kicked to death in front of his partner after intervening to complain about a noisy party, a jury heard .
Danny Walsh, 30, stopped to remonstrate as he walked past the party in the Lincolnshire market town of Grantham with his partner Katie Loosemore and their two year-old toddler in a pushchair.
The couple were concerned the noise would be keeping awake family’s in the neighbouring houses – one whom had a daughter with a terminal illness, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
But the householder Kelly Parsons emerged to scream abuse at Mr Walsh.
It is alleged after Mr Walsh returned to the property a second time Miss Parson’s brothers Ben and Sam Croft carried out a fatal attack on him.
The brothers kicked his head “like a football” as he lay motionless on the ground, the jury was told.
Mr Walsh suffered serious brain injuries and despite efforts to save his life he was pronounced dead within hours of the attack happening.
Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Walsh and his family were walking home in the rain after an evening out at a charity event staged at their local football club Harrowby FC.
Mr Aspden said they came across an impromptu party on their journey home at a house belonging to Kelly Parsons – the sister of the two defendants, Ben and Sam Croft.
Some of those present had spilled out onto the street outside.
“It was at this point Mr Walsh made a fatal mistake – he decided to get involved,” said Mr Aspden.
“He knew there were children sleeping in the area and he shouted across to those in and around the house to keep the noise down.
“Kelly Parsons appeared. She was drunk and she was screaming at Danny Walsh that it was her house and she would do as she liked.
“Mr Walsh didn’t back down and repeated his request for them to keep the noise down.
“A few moments later the two defendants and others were out in the front. There then followed an ugly argument. It involved those at number 43 and Mr Walsh.
“The argument culminated in a confrontation resulting in Mr Walsh being assaulted by the two defendants.
“Each of them struck him and each of them by his conduct encouraged the other to do the same. It was a joint assault.
“He was swiftly knocked to the ground where he was further assaulted.
“Katie Loosemore tried to intervene but was intercepted by the drunken Kelly Parsons and briefly those two women were fighting in the street.
There was shouting and there was noise.
“Those present began to realise Danny Walsh was in a bad way . He was unconscious, unresponsive and bleeding from the mouth.
“Attempts were made to rouse him but he didn’t wake up. The reason for that is simple. It was because he was dying.”
Mr Aspden said that Sam Croft, 22, left the scene in a car but his older brother called for an ambulance. Mr Walsh was taken to Grantham Hospital but was in a deep coma and died soon afterwards.
Katie Loosemore told the jury: “I saw Daniel get a punch to the side of the head off Ben and a punch at the back of the head.
“Sam Croft hit Daniel on the back of the head. After he was punched Daniel was on the floor. He wasn’t moving but they carried on kicking.
“The kicks were to his head. Both of them were kicking him. It was like they were kicking a football.”
Under cross examination Miss Loosemore denied a defence suggestion that Mr Walsh “flipped” when he returned the house a second time and attacked Sam Croft.
She denied a further defence claim that only one kick was aimed at her partner and that “she was only seeing what she wanted to see” when she described Mr Walsh being repeatedly kicked.
“I have it in my head all the time,” she insisted, “and it is there all the time.”
Ben Croft denied he was involved in any violence while his brother Sam said he acted in self defence. Ben Croft, 24, and Sam Croft, 22, both of Barrowby, Lincs, each deny murder.
The trial continues.
