“EXCESSIVE force” was used by a bouncer in an incident which saw a man fracture his skull and die days later, a court heard.

Leslie Wiseman, of Whitehouse Meadows, Eastwood, claims he acted in self defence when Paul Wallington suffered catastrophic injuries in the early hours of Christmas Day, 2018.

Mr Wallington, 25, was knocked to the ground outside the Vine Bar, in Brentwood, after being kicked out of the venue.

On the second day of the trial, yesterday, an eyewitness who saw Wiseman, 31, standing outside the bar admitted she could not tell if the victim was punched or pushed.

But she insisted “excessive force” was used.

The witness, who was driving past the bar at the time, said: “Wiseman looked not very happy. I don’t know if the Vine was closing but he looked like he was trying to get people away, but they weren’t doing what he said.”

The witness then saw the altercation where Wiseman forced Mr Wallington into the road. She said she could not tell if he used fists or open hands but said it was “excessive”.

She said: “At this point the victim was very close to the kerb so when he pushed him the victim had his back to the road and the bouncer pushed with force to the road.”

Prosecuting barrister Christopher Paxton QC asked: “What sort of level of force would you describe it as?”

The witness replied: “It was excessive, especially considering how close to the road they were.

“It was really awful, he went down almost as if – I don’t know what happened beforehand – he did not fall like a conscious person.

“He fell straight back onto the road and immediately his head hit the concrete on the road.”

She said that Mr Wallington did not hold his arms or hands out as he fell.

The court previously heard that Mr Wallington had got into an argument in Vine Bar and was ejected, and had been protesting this when the altercation took place.

He was taken to hospital but his condition worsened and he died on December 29.

The witness added that Mr Wallington had been sick while he was on the ground but remained unconscious.

The trial continues.