A JURY has heard how the partner of a 50-year-old man urged emergency services to hurry as she cradled him while he lay dying in a Redditch street.

A transcript of a 999 call made shortly after midnight on February 24 last year was read to the jury at Worcester Crown Court where three teenagers are on trial for manslaughter.

Gareth Walters, prosecuting, said the caller, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described how Nigel Shakespeare was lying in the street in Sillins Avenue. The emergency operator was told Mr Shakespeare was bleeding from the nose and mouth and his partner, Jacqueline Cull, was holding his head up. She could be heard in the background urging the ambulance to "get there quick", Mr Walters said.

Police arrived within five minutes of the call at 12.20am and the paramedics two minutes later. Mr Shakespeare was taken to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and transferred to Walsgrave hospital in Warwickshire but he died from a fractured skull and a brain bleed.

Mr Walters said Mr Shakespeare had been in the Kings Arms pub and was found to have twice the legal drink drive limit of alcohol but the effects of this would have depended on his tolerance to alcohol.

Adam Haylor, of Astley Close, Redditch, and Colin Mahon, of Albert Road, Halesowen, both 18, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny manslaughter. Haylor also denies a separate charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The jury has been told Haylor shouted an abusive comment at Mr Shakespeare as he walked by. He struggled with the 17-year-old, and he was punched on the left side of his face. Haylor then stamped on his head despite being pulled back by Mahon, the jury has heard.

Forensic pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar told the jury the injuries to Mr Shakespeare's head were consistent with three impacts. His left cheekbone had been fractured by a "heavy blow" and there was bruising to his forehead. He also had a cut on the back of his head where the skull had fractured which was likely to have been caused by hitting a hard surface such as the road.

The trial continues.