Man Accused of Fatal Punch in Croydon Town Centre
Peter Dache denies murder charge as CCTV footage is presented to Croydon Crown Court.
Incident → evidence → outcomeA man is facing trial at Croydon Crown Court accused of causing the death of another man with a single blow. Peter Dache, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Lloyd Stewart, 44. The prosecution alleges the incident occurred on a busy shopping street in Croydon town centre.
Court Proceedings and Evidence
During proceedings on Wednesday, November 4, CCTV footage was shown to the court. This footage, captured on Saturday, July 12 of the previous year, allegedly shows Mr Dache striking Mr Stewart on North End, a pedestrianised area. Detective Constable Rod McKenzie described the events depicted in the video to the court. He stated that the footage showed Mr Dache walking with a woman before turning, appearing to deliver a punch with his right hand towards Mr Stewart's head area. At the time of the alleged strike, Mr Stewart's hands were reportedly still behind his back. Following the alleged impact, Mr Stewart fell to the ground.
DC McKenzie also told the court that after the incident, Mr Dache was observed jogging away from the scene. The court heard that the incident happened quickly. A witness, who was present on North End at the time, provided evidence via video recording. She stated that she saw the alleged punch and heard a loud noise when Mr Stewart fell, indicating to her that his head had struck the pavement.
The witness further reported hearing a woman, who had been with Mr Dache, ask him, “What did you do that for?”. She added that Mr Dache then walked away. The trial is continuing.
Questions this report answers
01What is Peter Dache accused of?
Peter Dache is accused of murdering Lloyd Stewart, 44, by allegedly delivering a single punch in Croydon town centre. He denies the charge of murder.
02What evidence has been presented in court?
CCTV footage allegedly showing the incident on North End was presented to Croydon Crown Court. A witness also provided evidence, stating she saw the alleged punch and heard a loud sound when Mr Stewart fell.
03What happened after the alleged incident?
According to police, Peter Dache was seen jogging away from the scene after the alleged punch. A witness reported hearing Mr Dache's companion ask him, 'What did you do that for?'.
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