Single punch from ex-marine resulted in death

A MAN died after a single punch from a former marine during a petty argument outside a club, a court has heard.

David Malcolm, 29, struck Brian Lawrie, 22, because he "was giving me cheek" and Mr Lawrie tumbled down a few steps and hit his head on a paving slab.

The impact caused a complex skull fracture and Mr Lawrie died in hospital about a fortnight later.

Malcolm, of Miners Walk, Dalkeith, Midlothian, admitted the culpable homicide of Mr Lawrie, of Stoneybank Drive, Musselburgh, on 21 February last year at Wiremill Social Club, Musselburgh. He will be sentenced next month.

The High Court in Edinburgh yesterday was told that there had been ill-feeling between the men because Mr Lawrie claimed he was owed 40-70, while Malcolm insisted that there was no debt.