EYEWITNESSES say the man accused of the single-punch murder of 56-year-old Orange man Graeme Wilton fled from the scene, wheels spinning, after he saw he was being watched, a court has heard.
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Mr Wilton, who was holidaying with his wife Marlene at a Central Coast caravan park, had been out for a walk when he crossed paths with 22-year-old Kaine Geoffrey Jones along Griffith Street, Mannering Park.
A brother and sister who lived opposite the scene gave evidence during a committal hearing at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
Amanda McCleod said she saw a utility stop short of colliding with Mr Wilton, who hit the bonnet of the car with two hands as if to say ‘‘whoa’’.
She said the driver then got out and threw his hands in the air, calling out to Mr Wilton, who walked back to talk to him.
She said it appeared that the two men spoke to each other but she did not know what they said.
There was no sign of aggression between them until Jones punched Mr Wilton in the face with a left hook, she said.
Her brother, Andrew Locke, said he was in the kitchen when he heard a turbo-powered car travel up the street and come to a sliding stop.
He said he walked outside to see Mr Wilton being punched.
‘‘The older man fell back ... stiff as a board, and split his head open, right on the top of his crown,’’ Mr Locke said.
The driver looked up and saw that he was being watched, got back into his car and took off at a skid, Mr Locke said.
‘‘He revved it and dropped the clutch and took off, with two wheels spinning.’’
Mr Locke went down to the road where Mr Wilton had already been moved.
‘‘He was looking like he was lost, looking through us,’’ he said.
‘‘He couldn’t see us.”
Jones has said he was acting in self-defence, but police allege he was the aggressor.
Jones is chargedwith murder, but has not yet entered a formal plea.
Mr Wilton died two months after the incident.