A clubgoer died after being pushed head-first through fire doors and then subjected to "unnecessary, unlawful and excessive force" by security staff, a court heard.

Christopher Buck, 40, was "effectively strangled to death" as he was held on the ground by the three men outside the Revolution bar in Bradford, said prosecutor Julian Goose QC.

A post-mortem examination showed Mr Buck died from asphyxia caused by compression of the neck, he told a jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Each of the three defendants was responsible for Mr Buck's death, each having played their part, said Mr Goose.

Doormen John Lamont, 27, whose address cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, Akbar Umar, 24, of Washington Street, Girlington, Bradford, and club manager Philip Marshall, 34, of Peterborough Terrace, Undercliffe, Bradford, have each denied a charge of manslaughter.

Mr Goose told the court how, on October 27 last year, Mr Buck was standing at the bar where there was a delay in serving customers because of a shortage of staff.

He said some witnesses had stated Mr Buck was being impatient and abusive to the bar staff.

He was then ordered to leave by Lamont and Akbar but refused to do so.

Lamont was seen to take Mr Buck by his arm and neck and he was pushed outside through the fire doors, where Akbar was seen to punch him in the face, said Mr Goose.

Mr Buck was struggling and some witnesses were shocked to see him effectively being used as a battering-ram to open the doors.

He was then tripped by Lamont and held on the ground, with Lamont sitting astride his back and Akbar helping to hold him down.

Marshall later became involved, holding his legs, said the prosecutor.

"He was held down and violently assaulted," said Mr Goose.

"The prosecution say there was no reason to take the deceased down to the ground while outside the bar.

"The conduct of the defendants was unlawful and involved extreme force."

Lamont was pulling Mr Buck's head upwards and back while Akbar held him down and repeatedly punched him in the head and upper body.

Eventually Mr Buck stopped struggling, said Mr Goose, adding: "Even when life had left him they continued to hold him, in the belief he was pretending to be unconscious when in fact he was dead."

When police officers arrived Mr Buck was turned over and it was noticed that his face was purple.

By the time paramedics arrived, and despite their efforts, he could not be resuscitated.

It was clear that he died at the scene.

The force used on him was "unnecessary, unlawful and excessive" and it was obvious that some harm - even the slightest harm - would be caused, said Mr Goose.

In police interviews, both Lamont and Akbar claimed Mr Buck had been struggling and had hit Lamont in the face.

Lamont had told Akbar they would restrain him "to get him nicked."

The trial continues.

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