Dad-of-two killed in one-punch attack at Rutherglen pool hall

A dad-of-two was floored and killed in a one punch attack by a man he was playing pool with, a court was told today.

Chef Thomas Allan, 52, from Govan, Glasgow, sent Jason Haig, 45, crashing to the ground with a left hand punch while still holding his pool cue in his right.

The unprovoked assault, which was captured on CCTV, took place at Harley's Sky Bar in Main Street, Rutherglen, on September 2, this year.

At the High Court in Glasgow Allan admitted the culpable homicide of Mr Haig, from Rutherglen.

Mr Haig died in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on September 10 from a catastrophic brain injury.

Prosecutor Michael Meehan said that the two men had been playing pool for around 20 minutes.

Mr Meehan said: “After some time there was a change in body language between them. Mr Haig tapped the end of his cue on the table and the accused apparently remonstrated with him.

“This exchange happened twice more. Then the accused approached Mr Haig, spoke to him for a few seconds, then punched him on the face once.”

The court heard that as Mr Haig lay unconscious on the floor and pub regulars tried to help him, Allan was heard to say: “He better stay down or I'll put him f***ing back down,” and “I warned him three times.”

Footage of the one punch attack was shown in court and there were audible gasps when the punch was swung and Mr Haig crashed to the ground hitting his head on the wooden floor.

As Mr Haig lay knocked out, bleeding from his head and being attended two by two men, Allan, who was a regular at the bar, left after about two minutes.

He was apprehended two days later in a bar in Hope Street, Glasgow.

His victim died from a massive bleed on the brain. He also suffered a skull fracture.

The court heard that Allan has previous convictions for possession of an offensive weapon and assault.

Judge Lord Mulholland told Allan: “This was an unprovoked assault. It was a catastrophic injury you delivered to this man and after punching him you left him to his fate.”

Lord Mulholland deferred sentence on Allan until next month, remanded him in custody and called for background reports.

Defence counsel Sarah Livingstone will give her plea in mitigation then

Mr Haig's death is the second one to devastate the Haig family this year. His younger brother Jamie died six months earlier.

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