A pedicab driver has described hearing a "sickening thud" moments after an alleged one-punch attack in Far North Queensland.
Timothy John England, 21, who allegedly punched Brett Thomson in the back of the head outside the Pier Bar in July 2019, has pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court in Cairns to unlawful striking causing death.
Mr Thomson, 32, died in hospital from head injuries several days after the incident.
The court was shown security vision of the night, which showed Mr Thomson lying motionless on the road after being punched in the head and knocked to the ground by Mr England.
Pedicab driver Ryan Hill told the court he saw a "scuffle" and "two people being violent towards each other" outside the bar.
"[Mr Thomson] looked like he was out before he hit the ground," Mr Hill told the court.
"It was a pretty sickening thud to hear.
Mr Thomson's friend and housemate, Rory Mangan-Smith, also gave evidence in court.
He said he, Mr Thomson and another friend had drunk a bottle of vodka before arriving at the Pier Bar at 6:00pm.
He said they had also consumed "a bag of cocaine" the night before.
He told the court the trio were leaving the bar when they came across the accused man and his friends, who were also leaving the bar.
'He just dropped limp'
On Wednesday, the court heard Mr Thomson yelled obscenities at the accused man's sister, Tayla-Jane England, as she walked past him outside the bar.
One of Mr England's friends told Mr Thomson to stop and a scuffle broke out.
"He [Mr Thomson] just dropped limp. He dropped onto the road."
In his opening statement, Crown prosecutor Nigel Rees yesterday told the court the punch from Mr English "ultimately killed the deceased".
He said the fight started after Mr Thomson swore at the accused man's sister, as she walked past him.
Mr England, a former representative rugby union player and apprentice electrician, sat quietly in the dock as supporters seated in several rows of the gallery listened.
Nearly a dozen of Mr Thomson's family members and friends were also in court.
The trial before Justice James Henry continues.
