Heart attack killed man - accused

A gang member charged with killing a Lower Hutt man will argue a heart attack, not his fists, were to blame.

Desmond Leaf, 30, of Avalon and another man are charged with the manslaughter of Michael Mulholland, found with facial wounds in a driveway in Pomare, north of Wellington, on September 20.

Leaf appeared in the Lower Hutt District Court today with his lawyer Stephen Gill arguing he should be granted bail.

Gill said Leaf had been invited into Mullholland's house and punched him once. Mullholland then left the house and drove to another address where he died of a heart attack, he said.

''The argument is that one punch had nothing to do with the heart attack.''

Leaf was remanded in custody with a decision on bail deferred pending a pathology report.

It is understood both Leaf and his co-accused are members of the Mongrel Mob.

- © Fairfax NZ News