A THUG killed a man with just one punch by hitting him so hard his feet left the ground and he was 'horizontal in the air', a court heard on Friday.

Connor Pool, 25, struck 23 year old Freddie Fontete-Jones with such force he fell back and was knocked unconscious as their friends argued outside a fast food restaurant.

A witness described the sound of the punch as 'horrific... like a balloon popping', Winchester Crown Court heard.

Freddie died from brain injuries three day later in hospital.

Salisbury Journal:

His heartbroken family wept as they saw CCTV of the attack and heard details of the incident as Pool was sentenced.

The two men's friendship groups had begun arguing during the evening after one of them had been slapped in a local nightclub.

Mr Fontete-Jones, who had not been involved, then arrived as a 'peace-maker'.

When the two groups later congregated outside Chick-O-Land, a number of different men in the group began arguing and fighting.

After Fontete-Jones confronted members of the other group to ask why they were attacking his friends, Pool pushed his way through the crowd and fatally punched him with a 'cheap shot'.

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Prosecutor Kerry Maylin said Mr Fontete-Jones, who had been a talented youth footballer, died 'as a result of a punch to the head' which led to a 'non survivable injury'.

Ms Maylin said: "He was punched to the side of his head and then fell backwards, hitting his head on the road and was knocked unconscious.

"As a result of the injury to his brain, Freddie - a former Salisbury FC Youth player - suffered a number of cardiac arrests, and died three days later in hospital.

"At Salisbury Hospital, he was subjected to brain stem tests and was declared brain dead.

"His life support was removed the following day.

"The incident involved two friendship groups, who had no history of any animosity.

"There was an altercation at the Chapel Nightclub, Salisbury [between one man from either friendship group]."

After the incident, Mr Fontete-Jones - who had left the city earlier in the night - received a call from the friend, and decided to return.

The two groups then gathered outside Chick-O-Land in the early hours of the morning.

Ms Maylin continued: "[There was now] fighting and arguing between the two groups.

"Mr Fontete-Jones confronted some members of the other group to ask them why they had 'attacked' his friends.

"Freddie appeared sober, he had his hand in his pocket showing he was not looking for a fight," Ms Maylin said.

"[Pool] pushed through the group [to punch Mr Fontete-Jones].

"[CCTV footage] shows his feet leave the ground... he was horizontal, and his head hit the floor first.

"The amount of force required must have been great - he was 5ft 10ins and weighed 15st.

"Mr Fontete-Jones was confronting the other group as to why they had attacked his friends.

"[A witness said] it was a cheap shot and Mr Fontete-Jones had no opportunity to see it coming.

"He had no idea what was about to happen to him.

"[Another witness] described the sound of the punch as horrific... like a balloon popping.

"[Pool] immediately ran off, and [later] appeared pumped up by what had occurred taking up a boxing stance."

Mr Fontete-Jones' family wept in court as they watched CCTV footage of Pool going to buy items from a garage, shortly after striking the fatal blow.

Pool, from Winterbourne Gunner, had previously denied the charge or murder but admitted manslaughter as a direct alternative.

His sentencing will conclude on Monday.