Johanna Thompson made the comments at the end of an inquest into the death of Neil McGibbon, who was struck in the face after being drawn into an altercation with a group of young men who had been kicked out of the Kings Head pub in Loddon, on November 10, 2023.

The 58-year-old fell backwards, hit his head on the kerb and lost consciousness. He died in hospital three days later.

Neil McGibbon. (Image: Facebook)

Despite a major police investigation and a string of arrests, no one has ever been charged in connection with the violence.

An inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court this week has heard the circumstances which led to the confrontation, including the sequence of strikes from those involved which led up to the punch which caused Mr McGibbon to fall.

Ms Thompson, the area coroner, declined to give a 'shortform' conclusion - such as accidental death, misadventure or unlawful........

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