Pubgoer died after being punched from behind in 'cowardly' attack, court hears

A defenceless pubgoer died after being punched forcefully from behind in a "cowardly" attack as he walked to meet his partner, a murder trial has been told. Kelvin Evans, 64, was left "gravelly ill" in hospital after an alleged serious assault at The Station Hotel in Gorseinon on Sunday, May 26.

Christopher Cooper, 39, from the Maritime Quarter, Swansea, has been charged with murder, which he denies, and is on trial at Swansea Crown Court while his partner denies assisting an offender. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here.

Andrew Jones KC, prosecuting, said Mr Evans left the pub at around 9.45pm and it was still light. He was leaving with the intention to go to meet his partner, the court heard, but Mr Jones said: “He never made it.”

He added: “The reason why was because he was assaulted by Christopher Cooper. He was punched with such force that it led to his death on June 26, 2024. He was punched, cowardly, from behind with such strength that he remained for almost a month in hospital before he succumbed to his injuries.”

Mr Jones told the jury: “His death was the direct result of the actions of Cooper. He murdered the defenceless Kelvin Evans. He was doing nothing more than setting off to meet his partner. The punch, delivered from behind, left the 64-year-old floored.”

In reality Mr Evans “stood no chance”, said the prosecutor. “He was punched so hard that he hit his head on a nearby wall before he fell unconscious to the pavement. He never recovered from the ferocity of that punch." Mr Jones said Cooper’s intention was “to kill or to cause really serious harm to the victim”.

The prosecutor outlined events that had taken place in the pub prior to the alleged fatal assault. He said: “Mr Cooper