A brain injury that caused the death of a Blenheim man as he was being ejected from a nightclub was unexpected and unintended, a High Court jury has been told.
Kevin King, a former owner of the Shapeshifters Bar and bouncer, is charged with the manslaughter of Matt Heagney on 23 August last year.
Summing up the defence case, lawyer Mike Turner told the Wellington court on Tuesday that Mr King was carrying a struggling Mr Heagney out of the club with another staff member who slipped, causing the accused to lose his grip.
Mr Turner said his client used reasonable force to restrain Mr Heagney, who was involved in a physical altercation with another bouncer before being escorted out.
The Crown's case was that the incident ended with Mr Heagney being thrown or dropped backwards on to the footpath and seriously injuring the back of his head.
