14 Apr 2009

Nightclub fight alleged before man's death

7:33 pm on 14 April 2009

An inquiry into the death of a man at a Christchurch nightclub more than 12 years ago has heard evidence about a fight at the club before his death.

Barry Coleman died after falling down a flight of stairs at Wicked Willies club early on Christmas Day 1996.

A former DJ at the club, who has name suppression, told the inquest that he had seen a bouncer push Mr Coleman down the stairs.

But under cross-examination by Brent Stanaway, a lawyer acting for the police, the witness conceded he had changed his story several times and couldn't say exactly what had happened.