Adrian Milner with partner Gemma Stuttard and her daughter Molly

by Hayley Robinson

A father-of-two who died from a serious head injury after an unprovoked attack was killed unlawfully,a coroner ruled today.

Adrian Milner was walking home with friend Michael Coomber along Church Road, Murston, near Sittingbourne, when a man punched him in the face and walked off.

The force of the single blow caused the 48-year-old to fall to the floor and hit his head, knocking him unconscious.

Coroner Patricia Harding said she was satisfied from the evidence at an inquest today a verdict of unlawful killing was justified.

A murder investigation was launched after the lorry driver died in hospital 12 days later.

The hunt for his attacker continues after three men arrested over the incident were released without charge.

Mr Milner landed on his back with his hands still inside his pockets and his feet crossed December 28, 2010. assaulted onwhen he was

An inquest into his death, held at the Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, today heard how a number of people stopped to help Mr Milner.

The inquest was heard at Maidstone's Archbishop's Palace

First on the scene was Lacey Hider. She was turning her car around when she noticed Mr Coomber, who she knew, standing on the corner of Church Road and Tonge Road. He was calling for an ambulance.

Mr Hider, known as Ada to friends, was unconscious and laying in the road parallel to the pavement.

She said: “It wasn’t until I got down to Adrian’s level I could see he had blood coming out his mouth and the back of his head and he was making funny noises.”

Prior to the attack the two men had been drinking at the New Inn pub, in Murston Road, Murston.

Mr Coomber said he had drunk between eight and nine pints but was not sure how much Mr Milner had drunk, although he described him as being wobbly as they walked along the road.

A post mortem revealed Mr Milner suffered a fractured nasal bone and a fracture to the base of his skull.

He developed pneumonia while in hospital due to his head injury, which then led to his death. The cause of death was given as a head injury.

Anyone with any information about the attack is asked to phone police on 01622 690690, quoting operation Yugolsavia, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.