Guide Post man fatally attacked days before new home move

Several friends who saw Mr Peart later that night said he had a golfball-sized lump on his head and he started going “wobbly”.

When his condition started deteriorating, his friends said they tried to call an ambulance but were told there would be an hour’s delay so instead flagged down a passing van which took him to hospital.

The court has heard Mr Peart died at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary eight days after the attack.

Ms Gray said the day after the attack she sent a “really angry message” to Mr McIntyre, whom she knew, asking what he had done.

She said Mr McIntyre, who was a cagefighter, initially claimed he only punched Mr Peart, but after being called a “liar” by her he apologised and said he hit him in the head with a metal pole once.

Ms Gray said she replied “once is all it takes” and then hung up on him, telling jurors: “There was nothing left to say really.”

The trial continues.