|
From the Dover Mercury, 3 September 2015.
A security worker accused of manslaughter has claimed
he just held the ankles of an aggressive nightclub customer for a few
minutes as he struggled violently to get free.
Peter Holland said when he went back into Rivals in Deal Michael Bowes
was “still kicking and struggling”.
He added: “He had calmed down a bit by then but he was still aggressive.
He was still being restrained. He was still moving; very much so.”
When he was arrested later that evening he said he was not aware that Mr
Bowes, 25, had died.
Holland, of St Pierre Court, Prince of Wales Terrace, Deal, is on trial
with Jamie Seal, of Rugby Close, Broadstairs, and Simon Banks, 40, of
William Pitt Avenue, Deal, who all deny manslaughter by gross
negligence. The three doormen were involved in restraining Mr Bowes, of
King Street, Margate, after he was ejected from a Breakology drum and
bass night in the early hours of August 11, 2013.
Mr Bowes, who was drunk and a user of cocaine and steroids, suffered a
cardiac respiratory collapse.
Holland said it was the only time he had worked for Marc-One Security and his only time at the Queen Street club.
Another employee of the company he knew had asked him if he wanted to do
a shift there because they had a big night and they were short-staffed.
The 46-year-old father said he had been working earlier in the day on security at a funfair in Herne
Bay.
“I got there at about 11.20pm,” he told the jury. “I was asked to sign
in and was shown around. I was provided with a radio but no earpiece.
“There was no briefing by anyone else. I was not introduced to any other
door supervisors.”
He was situated between Rivals and the Academy Bar.
“The music was really loud, lots of banging,” he said. “I couldn’t hear
my radio. I couldn’t have a conversation with anyone.”
Holland said he was about 45 minutes to an hour into his shift when he
was aware of an incident.
He saw a man - Mr Bowes - who was agitated and struggling as Banks took
him to the fire exit.
“I walked up to see what was going on and ended up getting involved,” he
continued. “I went to help. We tried to escort him away from the noise.
“He was very angry. He didn’t want to move. We had an arm each and
escorted him to the door.”
Holland said he went back into the club but then saw Mr Bowes was
punching the reinforced windows in the doors.
“He was punching with everything he had,” he said. “He wanted to get
back in. My personal view was that he was on something.
“We were going to hold him there for the police for criminal damage. It
looked like he was quite happy for a fight, to have
a go at Simon.
“Mr Banks was trying to get hold of him. He wasn’t doing anything
inappropriate at all. The man was flailing his arms about. There was a
tussle.” Holland said he believed Banks took Mr Bowes to the ground, but
agreed it could have been Seal.
“Simon was on his shoulders to keep him down, giving him a bear hug to
restrain him.
“Mr Seal was at the head end. I
just had his ankles.
“He was kicking out. I grabbed his ankles to protect him and anybody
else who was around. He was trying to get everybody off him.
“As he was kicking out I put my knee across. I was out there a total of
seven to 10 minutes. I didn’t see any punches.” Holland added he was
asked to “get off’ and go back into the club.
'I DON'T BELIEVE I ACTED NEGLIGENTLY'
Asked by his lawyer Niall Doherty if he saw any of the door supervisors
acting inappropriately, Holland replied: "No, none whatsoever.
I didn't hear any raised voices apart from the gentleman on the floor
swearing.
“I didn't see anyone acting unprofessionally. I was not aware the man
had died at the time. He only had injuries to his hands."
Asked if he believed what he did was reasonable, he said: "Yes, I do. I
believe I used reasonable force. I believe I exercised a duty of care by
holding his feet.
"I didn't lose my temper.
I don’t believe I acted negligently at all."
Holland said in his statement to police that Mr Bowes was shouting: "I
am stronger than
you. Get off."
The doorman added: “He was struggling like there is no tomorrow. He had
blood all over his hands where he had been hitting the windows.
It went on my shirt and everything.
"I was taken aback by it. I was a bit shocked by it."
Rivals Night Club, where a man died after a struggle with security staff.
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
Holland, who is originally from Dover, said he had worked in the
security industry for 18 years doing mainly "event work”.
He was previously employed by the now defunct Speed Ferries at Dover
docks and then in 2009 completed training for his Security Industry
Authority (SIA) licence.
Conflict management was taught, he said, but there were "no restraint
techniques or anything like that".
"I did retail security and a lot of event work, Radio One shows, air
shows, Kent County Show,” he continued. "I also did close protection
work, being a bodyguard for VIPs."
He took a year out from security doing stocktaking in Paris and returned
to the UK in 2013 and continued part-time with event work including fun
fairs.
Holland said he last worked in June last year.
"It came to an end because of the case and my licence was
suspended," he said
"My health has not been very good because of what's gone on. I am
suffering from post traumatic stress disorder."
|
