Bouncer tells murder trial how he went looking for man accused of killing former Chesterfield soldier and Sheffield United fan

A bouncer has described how he went looking for the Chesterfield man accused of murdering a former soldier from the town when he gave evidence in court.
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Giving evidence at Derby Crown Court on Monday, January 25, the doorman, identified as Ricky Bentley, described how he had been on duty the night that Joseph Robotham had been struck by a bottle outside the Vibe Bar in Holywell Street in the early hours of February 8 last year.

He told the court that he, along with three other bouncers, had escorted the 23-year-old, of Sheffield Road, Old Whittington, out of the club at around 3.30am, after he got into a fight with another man.

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Connor Rose, of no fixed address has admitted Mr Robotham’s manslaughter but denies murder.

Joseph Robotham died after cracking his skull on the pavement after being hit with a bottleJoseph Robotham died after cracking his skull on the pavement after being hit with a bottle
Joseph Robotham died after cracking his skull on the pavement after being hit with a bottle

The court has previously heard that Rose had come out of the club and struck him with a bottle, knocking him unconscious. Mr Robotham had then fallen to the floor and cracked his skull on the ground.

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This afternoon, Mr Bentley said he hadn’t seen the blow being struck, but had heard the sound of smashing glass, and Rose leave the scene shortly afterwards.

He told the court that he had been told that the defendant had been spotted on a nearby street corner, but when he and a group of other men went to look for him, he could not be found.

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Earlier in today’s proceedings, the court heard evidence from Home Office pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton, who told the court said that Mr Robotham had suffered a fractured skull, and would not have died from the single blow he received outside the venue.

Dr Hamilton, who carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr Robotham at Leicester Royal Infirmary, said the fall had caused bleeding and swelling to the brain, which would have led to the organ being starved of oxygen, despite doctors’ best efforts to save his life.

He said: “I have attributed the medical cause of death to the head injury. I am of the opinion that the injuries present are in-keeping with a blow to the right side of Mr Robotham’s face, which has caused him to fall backwards and strike his head on the ground.”

The trial continues.

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