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Jonathan Hiles inquest hears of death after Zante nightclub punch | Jonathan Hiles inquest hears of death after Zante nightclub punch |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A teenager died after being punched in a nightclub on the first day of a Greek holiday, an inquest has heard. | A teenager died after being punched in a nightclub on the first day of a Greek holiday, an inquest has heard. |
Jonathan Hiles from Cardiff was dancing with friends on the island of Zante in July 2007 when he was hit in the face. | |
The 18-year-old hockey player then fell from a stage, hitting his head on the crowded dance floor. He later died in hospital in Athens. | The 18-year-old hockey player then fell from a stage, hitting his head on the crowded dance floor. He later died in hospital in Athens. |
Holidaymaker Andrew Symeou, 25, from north London, was charged with manslaughter but acquitted in 2011. | Holidaymaker Andrew Symeou, 25, from north London, was charged with manslaughter but acquitted in 2011. |
Mr Symeou was in court in Cardiff for the inquest on Wednesday, alongside Mr Hiles' friends and family. | Mr Symeou was in court in Cardiff for the inquest on Wednesday, alongside Mr Hiles' friends and family. |
Mr Hiles had flown to the resort of Laganas with a group of friends to celebrate his forthcoming 19th birthday. | Mr Hiles had flown to the resort of Laganas with a group of friends to celebrate his forthcoming 19th birthday. |
Non-aggressive tone | |
The inquest heard how the group had been at a club called Rescue when they were involved in an altercation. | The inquest heard how the group had been at a club called Rescue when they were involved in an altercation. |
They had been dancing on a "chest-high" stage in the club when another reveller urinated on them. | They had been dancing on a "chest-high" stage in the club when another reveller urinated on them. |
The inquest heard from some of Mr Hiles' friends who were on the holiday. | |
They all said they had seen a man urinating at the back of the stage. Some went to the toilet to clean up leaving behind Mr Hiles and his friend Mark O'Gorman. | |
Mr O'Gorman told the inquest that, as they were leaving the stage, Mr Hiles turned to the man who had been urinating and asked him in a non-aggressive tone: "What are you doing?". | |
After a brief pause the man hit Mr Hiles on the left cheek, he said. | |
'Completely still' | |
He told the court that the teenager staggered backwards and fell off the stage onto the dance floor below. | |
"Jon was on the floor completely still," said Mr O'Gorman. "He wouldn't wake up. I knew something was deeply wrong." | |
He said he was certain the man who had been urinating was Mr Symeou. | |
Mr Hiles was flown to hospital in Athens but died the day before his 19th birthday. | |
His father Denzil Hiles, 62, told the inquest: "Jon was my son and also my friend - his mother and I cared for him dearly. | |
Roller hockey | |
"But his life was tragically stolen from him while he was on holiday with friends in Zante. | "But his life was tragically stolen from him while he was on holiday with friends in Zante. |
"I was with Jon holding his hand when his monitor showed a flat line and he passed away." | "I was with Jon holding his hand when his monitor showed a flat line and he passed away." |
Mr Hiles said his son was not a violent man. | |
"His passion was ice and roller hockey. It all started when he saw the film Mighty Ducks. | "His passion was ice and roller hockey. It all started when he saw the film Mighty Ducks. |
"Although hockey is a contact sport and fights break out during games Jon was not a fighter. | "Although hockey is a contact sport and fights break out during games Jon was not a fighter. |
"All he would be concerned with was protecting his face - he was good looking, a popular lad, he always found it difficult to walk past a mirror." | "All he would be concerned with was protecting his face - he was good looking, a popular lad, he always found it difficult to walk past a mirror." |
Home Office pathologist Andrew Davidson said Mr Hiles, who was not under the influence of drink or drugs, died of a head injury. | Home Office pathologist Andrew Davidson said Mr Hiles, who was not under the influence of drink or drugs, died of a head injury. |
He said: "I found evidence of blunt force trauma to the back of the head. | He said: "I found evidence of blunt force trauma to the back of the head. |
"There was also evidence of three fractures emanating from the back of the middle of his head." | "There was also evidence of three fractures emanating from the back of the middle of his head." |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |