GUESTS and neighbours have told an inquest how a mass fight erupted outside a Birmingham pub during a memorial function which ended in the death of a man.

David Weaver suffered severe head injuries during the brawl at the Hare and Hounds pub in Marsh Hill, Stockland Green, on November 21, 2008.

The 45-year-old dad had been a guest at a function in memory of murder victim Lee Wellard, from Kingstanding, who was stabbed to death at a late night party in August 2008.

Trouble started inside the pub and spilled out into the street, Birmingham Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

At least 50 people were involved in the incident and motorists were forced to stop as rival groups clashed on the road.

Mr Weaver, who police believe acted as a peacemaker, was found lying on the opposite side of the road to the pub.

He underwent emergency brain surgery that night but never recovered and died in hospital five months later on April 26, 2009.

At the inquest into his death, Angela Wint, who lives near the pub, described the fight as “horrendous and vicious”.

She said: “There were problems outside the pub for a couple of years, but I’d never seen anything like that. There was shouting and screaming; everyone, men and women, were fighting each other. Later I saw a man lying on the floor. People were stood around him still shouting and arguing, it was chaos.”

In a statement read out by coroner Adrian Cotter, neighbour, Margaret Fearn, said: “I could see a lot of people fighting among themselves. There was a figure lying down in front of a skip, someone was kicking him repeatedly.”

Guests who had been at the function told the inquest “scuffles” had taken place inside the pub throughout the evening.

Gillian Martin said: “I was aware of a number of small arguments and scuffles throughout the evening. There was pushing and shoving.

“Later, a male pushed past me and barged into me. Then all the fighting started. Everything happened so fast, there was a rush of people to the front door. I saw David on the floor unconscious.”

Kerri Ryder said: “Everyone started pouring through the main entrance, pushing, shoving and screaming. It was madness.

“When I got outside I saw people running everywhere, screaming, fighting and crying. I was scared for my life.”

The death of Mr Weaver, from Erdington, is still being treated by police as a potential murder investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Walton, from West Midlands Police, told the inquest: “Two years on we still don’t know who is responsible. It us unclear to this day what happened.

“One witness said David was collecting for a raffle. He was by no means an antagonist in this, he may have just been caught up.”

(Proceeding)