FOG BLOG SAINT JOHN NEWS LOG: GARRETT JOHNSTON MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL:

Crown says there will be no dispute about who threw the punch that knocked man down...Garrett Johnston, 24, is on trial in Saint John for manslaughter in the death of Mark Baker.....here will be no dispute about who punched Mark Baker in the face outside a strip club in Saint John in 2019, according to Crown prosecutor Jeremy Erickson.

In his address to the jury on Monday afternoon, Erickson said there was no doubt that Garrett Johnston threw the punch.

Johnston, 24, is on trial for manslaughter in Baker's death.

Police found Baker injured and unconscious at the intersection of Waterloo and Union streets in Saint John at about 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2019.

He was taken to hospital in serious condition and died the following day.

Erickson told jurors they will hear in Johnston's own words that he punched Baker once in the face. ....Before Mark Baker says anything to him, Garrett Johnston punches him in the face.- Crown prosecutor Jeremy Erickson

Erickson said there was no history between the two men.

While they were both at the same strip club that night, the two had no apparent contact until after the bar closed.

In fact, the night was "quite unremarkable" up to that point, Erickson told the 14 jurors selected on Monday morning to hear the case.

Johnston was at the strip club, Club Blush, with a group of friends and they were standing around on the street after closing time.

Erickson said a video will show Baker "in amongst Garrett Johnston and his friends," before Baker walked down the block and across Union Street, "away from Garrett Johnston and his friends."

Within moments, Johnston crossed the street and approached Baker.

"Before Mark Baker says anything to him, Garrett Johnston punches him in the face," said Erickson. .