A FATAL fight in a Dartford kebab shop left a man "dead standing up", a court heard today.

Ben Mahoney, 30, was left reeling under the impact of Eddie Ives' punches after the pair started fighting in the House on the Hill takeaway in East Hill at around 11.25pm on April 12, Maidstone Crown Court was told this afternoon.

Ives, 29, denies the manslaughter of Mr Mahoney who suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage which could have been caused by any one of a series of blows to his head, face and neck, a jury of six men and six women previously heard.

Takeaway manager Cafir Zorlu told the court how shop regular Mr Mahoney was soon left unable to fight back after confronting Ives over his aggressive manner ordering food.

He said: "I had never seen a person die before and you could tell he was dead standing up. You could hear the punches.

"If Ben didn't die I'm assuming he would have been paralysed somehow because the punches were just too strong.

"His eyes, the pupils, you could see the pupils. His eyes weren't there, you know? He was just shaking maybe in shock I suppose.

"I think Ben was throwing up as there was liquid coming out of his mouth."

Ives threatened to kill everyone in the shop and burn it down before demanding his money back for the food he'd bought, according to Mr Zorlu.

He then made clear he wanted a further £90 after some Turkish tea the victim had been drinking got spilled on the sleeve of his jumper during the fight, the court heard.

Mr Zorlu said he gave Ives £30 from the till and pleaded with him to leave before the defendant picked up a can of Stella Artois lager he had left on the counter and walked out with pal Jamie Gardner carrying his jacket.

Defending Ives, Patrick Upward put it to Mr Zorlu that "until Ben spoke there was no problem" after the air conditioning electrician allegedly tried to have a joke with the defendant which was met with hostility.

After what the prosecution accepts was the first punch thrown by Mr Mahoney, he and Ives went for each other while Mr Zorlu and two other staff tried to split them up, the jury was told.

Mr Upward said to the witness: "This was a side of Ben that you hadn't seen before and try as you might to hold him back he was struggling and trying to throw punches."

The trial continues.