Amarpal Atkar, 33, died after trouble flared over comments made in the smoking area of Be At One, on Stephenson Street, in which he referred to a man who had accidentally backed into him as ‘Ed Sheeran‘ and a ‘ginger t***’.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
They were outside the club speaking to a taxi driver when the incident unfolded at around 1:20am on 31 July 2021.
Mr Thomas Coleman, a stranger on his first night out in the city, was told they could not get a taxi, as it was too close to the hotel, he stepped back, accidentally bumping into Mr Atkar (who was ‘like a celebrity’ at the venue as ‘everybody knew him’), the inquest heard.
Witnesses then heard Mr Atkar call Mr Coleman a ‘ginger t***’ and ‘Ed Sheeran’ before saying: ‘Hit me, hit me.’
Mr Coleman responded by punching Mr Atkar in the face which made him to fall to the ground. Mr Atkar got back to his feet as bouncers restrained Mr Coleman, taking his wallet and hotel key before letting him go.
ATKAR RAN AFTER COLEMAN
As he walked away, Mr Atkar ‘pursued’ him and was heard on the phone saying ‘he’s here, come quick’, the court heard. As a struggle ensued between the pair near Birmingham New Street station, he swung to punch Mr Coleman.
Mr Atkar, a financial services officer from Oldbury, West Midlands, was then punched in the face a second time in a blow that proved fatal.
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He was found unresponsive near the entrance to the railway station on Stephenson Street and was rushed to hospital. Nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead the same day.
Mr Coleman, who ran from the scene, was found at the Grand Hotel and arrested by police, initially on suspicion of murder, with a case later made for manslaughter.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has, on two occasions, made the decision not to charge Mr Coleman with any offence, the court was told.
