Court told club staff were right to restrain man

A father of four who died after being restrained by door staff at a Shrewsbury nightclub posed a threat to the public, a member of staff has told a jury in a manslaughter trial.

Darren Griffiths, 41, of Harmer Hill, died following an incident at Liquid and Diva nightclub in Raven Meadows, Shrewsbury, on June 29 last year and a doorman has been charged with manslaughter.

Daryl Brown, 33, of Severn Drive, Wellington, who was second in command on the door that night, denies the charge and is standing trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Kimberley Owen, who was working at the club at the time, told the jury yesterday that she believed Mr Griffiths was dangerous and that security staff at the club had been right to restrain him.

She said: "I was very close to him so I feared for my own safety and I have customers to think about as well. I thought he needed to be restrained."

She added that Mr Griffiths' breathing seemed "laboured" but she assumed it was because he was fighting back after security staff held him down on the floor.

The court also heard evidence from Nathan Fisher who said he was out in Shrewsbury that night with a friend, David Lawley.

Mr Fisher said as he was going into the nightclub he saw three people restraining Mr Griffiths on the floor.

He said: "I saw there was blood on the top of his head and a bit on the floor. The man seemed to be struggling as though he wasn't comfortable and was trying to get up. He said 'I'm going to get you'."

The court also heard from the first police officers to arrive at the scene after they were called to the club by management and by members of the public.

Constable Simon Dunn, from West Mercia Police, said: "It was clear Mr Griffiths wasn't breathing. I asked the door staff to release the man straight away. It was clear he needed medical treatment."

The jury was also shown CCTV footage of police and ambulance crews arriving at the club. It is alleged that Brown restrained Mr Griffiths on the floor in a CCTV blind spot near the club entrance.

Mr Griffiths had been out with friends after organising and attending a successful charity boat race at Pengwern Boat Club earlier in the day.

The trial continues.

By Emma Kasprzak