The fate of a man accused of manslaughter for an altercation during the Rugby World Cup rests on the intention of a split-second act, the court has heard.
The Crown alleges it was a fatal, deliberate punch that ended Billy Dawson's life, but the defence says it was an act of self-defence.
The trial for Kit John Murray is drawing to a close at the High Court in Auckland, with parties focusing on the intentions of the two men that night in their closing arguments.
Murray is accused of causing the death of Mr Dawson outside Spy Bar in the Viaduct Harbour last October.
The accused has said it was a split-second act of self-defence using his forearm which resulted in the death of Mr Dawson.
Crown lawyer Natalie Walker discarded this, alleging instead "a deliberate act of sudden violence", delivered by a powerful and ultimately fatal punch.
"Eleven witnesses can't be wrong," said Ms Walker, who told the court all 11 witnesses said Mr Murray had delivered a punch, although the descriptions of the punch varied.
She described Murray as a man quick to violence, and who was looking for trouble that night.
Witnesses described the "distinctive, sickening thud" when Mr Dawson's head hit the pavement.
The Sky TV employee suffered bleeding to his face and a fractured skull and died the following day in Auckland Hospital.
A pathologist said the injuries to Mr Dawson's face were consistent with a punch and could not have been inflicted by a forearm, said Ms Walker.
His lawyer Andrew Speed denied his client threw a punch, saying Murray had been attempting to help Mr Dawson by breaking up a fight with another group of men outside the bar.
It all then went "horribly, tragically wrong" when his client defended himself using his forearm after he was threatened by Mr Dawson, he alleged.
"This was not a gratuitous blow. It wasn't struck out of anger.
"The force of the blow I suggest to you is consistent with someone who was fearful for his own safety," said Mr Speed.
He also pointed to a lack of injury on his client's hand from the alleged punch.
Several of the witnesses had been drinking, others were looking to place blame for Mr Dawson's death and others were mistaken in their account of what took place, Mr Speed suggested.
The Crown and defence also referred to the blood on Murray's shirt following the altercation - Ms Walker suggesting the amount of blood came from contact with Mr Dawson's injury.
Mr Speed said the blood was the result of "compression" consistent with the force from his forearm.
Earlier today a female juror in the trial was discharged from her duties after Justice Patrick Keane learned she had inadvertently been to the scene of the altercation.
He said the action could have risked her ability to be impartial.
Justice Keane will sum up the case on Monday.
