Delivery driver died after single punch in attack by youths

A DELIVERY driver died when he was felled with a single punch after confronting "feral" youths who were rocking his car outside a Chinese takeaway.

• Simon San

The fatal attack on tragic Simon San, 40, was recorded on his mobile phone as he pleaded for help.

The High Court in Edinburgh today heard that Vietnam-born Mr San fell back after John Reid's punch and struck his head on the pavement.

The San family sobbed in court as they heard details of the attack in Lochend Road, Edinburgh, on August 11 this year.

Surgeons at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary decided they could not save him and Mr San died the following day from a fractured skull and internal bleeding.

Reid, 16, of Ferry Road Drive, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and faces sentence next month when background reports have been prepared.

As advocate depute Alex Prentice QC described how police had received frequent reports of trouble in the area and how Mr San's tiny Smart car had been rocked as he returned from making a delivery, judge Lord Matthews commented: "Unacceptable feral activity."

The court heard how Mr San was the youngest of six. He had obtained British citizenship after the family moved to Edinburgh when he was 12.

He worked as a waiter in a number of Chinese restaurants and for two years had been delivering meals for his sister who ran the Yong Hua Gardens Takeaway.

Mr Prentice said that during the evening of August 11 plain clothes detectives were patrolling the area because of reports of anti-social behaviour and noted a group hanging round outside the Loch Inn pub, next to the Chinese eaterie.

About 10pm Mr San returned. "His Smart Car was surrounded by the accused Reid and others. They started rocking it with the deceased still in it," said Mr Prentice.

Mr San got out with his mobile phone, indicating he was calling police. The operator heard him say: "Youngsters, a group of them, making trouble."

The phone call also recorded the sound of a disturbance and young people screaming before the line went quiet.

Witnesses who had popped outside the Loch Inn for a smoke saw a group of youths force Mr San back towards a wall. Then Reid came forward and punched him once, in the face as Mr San was still on the phone.

"The driver was pole-axed and fell right back on the ground. He did not stagger, he fell straight down," by-stander Callum Milne, 46, told police later.

"The back of his head connected with a flat section of the pavement.

"I would describe the noise as a sickening thud."

Other witnesses told how Reid seemed to have been egged on by others in the group.

Mr Milne and others tried to help the driver as blood gushed from the back of his head and he struggled to breathe. Shirley San also ran from the takeaway to try to help as they waited for an ambulance.

Mr Prentice said: "The family of the deceased are strongly of the view that the attack was racially motivated but police investigation has not found any evidence to support that."

Solicitor advocate Jim Stephenson, defending Reid, also insisted: "He maintains there has never been any racial element to his crime."

But outside court, campaigning solicitor Aamer Anwar, who had accompanied the devastated relatives of Mr San said: "The family have many questions and concerns and will meet Lothian and Borders Police next week."

Mr Anwar said a fuller statement was likely once Reid's court case was at an end.

The lawyer said: "The San family will never stop grieving for the loss of their much-loved innocent son and brother."

They described Mr San as a hard-working loyal man who never caused anyone any harm.

Reid was remanded in custody until his next court appearance in Greenock on October 13.