THE TRIAL of a 22-year old man charged with manslaughter following the death of a man during a late night brawl outside Wilmslow’s Sam Finney pub in 2006 opened on Tuesday.

Michael Lee Harrison, of Station Road, Handforth, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and a second charge of violent disorder when he appeared before Chester Crown Court.

Details of the attack were presented to a jury by Prosecutor Ian Murphy QC.

The court was told that the fight took place after the crowds poured out from the Sam Finney pub in the early hours of Saturday, November 4, 2006.

It was a drunken fight that got out of control and led to the death of 34 year old Carl Grainger, a driver, from Eccles, who collapsed and died on Alderley Road outside the Sam Finney after a night out with his work colleagues, the jury heard.

Mr Murphy said the incident began after dad of two, Mr Grainger, left the pub with a group of his colleagues.

He said Mr Grainger was angry after an altercation with staff at the downstairs bar over payment for extra drinks and he used his fist to smash the rear driver side window of a car parked on the street.

Mr Murphy said: "On November 3, 2006 a private party – organised for Expeditors International staff, based at Manchester Airport – took place in the upstairs bar of the Sam Finney. The bar and food was free. Among the party goers was Carl Grainger - who was quite a big man at 5ft 4in and weighing in excess of 25 stone. He has been described by colleagues as friendly and hard working.

"He arrived at the party in the early evening and drank several pints and was quite drunk by the early hours.

"The defendant Michael Harrison had been in the downstairs bar drinking with friends.

"By 1.30am the party was winding down and they were told to go downstairs. Carl Grainger ordered a round of drinks which came to £19.90 and he refused to pay, saying it was a free bar."

He added: "After that the doors were locked and the group were stood outside. Carl was still angry about the incident and in his frustration smashed a Ford Escort window.

"His colleagues were surprised and took him to task but they wanted to distance themselves and leave the area."

But his actions drew him to the attention of Michael Harrison and others, he said.

The court was told how Harrison was one of a group of men who became involved in a fight with Mr Grainger and his colleagues after the incident but it was not clear who started it.

A fight erupted between different members of the two groups and Mr Grainger found himself being attacked by two men - one of whom was Harrison, Mr Murphy alleged.

They knocked Mr Grainger to the ground and he became unconscious but they carried on kicking and punching him in the body and head, it was alleged.

One witness, Andrew Watkins, who had been on a night out in Wilmslow said: "When I got to the Sam Finney pub I saw a group of five males in front of the pub. I could see one was a fat man.

"I heard some glass smash and then I watched the fat man throw a punch at another man. At that point another male came up and threw a punch which connected with the left side of the man’s head. It was not a very hard connection."

But Mr Watkins said Mr Grainger then fell "flat on his back" and the two men started to kick and punch at him on the ground seven or eight times each until someone from the Sam Finney came to help Mr Grainger.

He added: "The initial fight may have been fair as the fat man threw the first punch but what happened after was vicious and totally unnecessary."

Mr Grainger died at the scene, despite efforts by door staff from the pub and police to revive him.

Earlier Judge, Mr Justice Rupert Jackson said the trial was expected to last between two and three weeks.

Proceeding