A NEWPORT man is facing a maximum sentence of life for manslaughter following the death of a 45-year-old man.

Ex-Welsh Guardsman Mark Hultberg, 31, of Delius Close, Maindee, pleaded guilty yesterday to unlawfully killing John Stanley Morris, from Cwmbran.

Mr Morris died in hospital six days after Hultberg hit him so hard he was sent crashing to the ground and his head struck the pavement with a "sickening crack." He suffered massive head injuries.

Hultberg's attack on Mr Morris was unprovoked and followed an earlier attack by Hultberg's brother John on Mr Morris's brother Dale.

John Hultberg, 33, of the same address, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Morris' brother in the incident which started in Yates Wine Lodge in Newport city centre, and then continued the street outside.

Detective Constable Tracy Williams said that on Saturday, November 1, the Hultberg brothers had been drinking all afternoon.

At around midnight, she said, John Hultberg headbutted Dale Morris who he had seen talking to his ex-girlfriend in Yates in what was a "violent attack totally without provocation."

"John Hultberg was holding Dale Morris in a headlock while simultaneously punching him repeatedly," said DC Williams.

Mr Morris and his brother then left the pub voluntarily. The Hultbergs were thrown out by doormen.

But fighting started again outside between Mr Dale Morris and John Hultberg. Mr John Morris appealed for the fighting to stop saying he and his brother did not want any trouble but he was struck from the side by Mark Hultberg in what a witness described as an "unprovoked haymaker".

DC Williams said the force of the punch was so strong that it lifted Mr Morris off the ground. He fell directly backwards and his head hit the pavement with a "sickening crack".

DC Williams said John Morris was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital by ambulance and was later transferred to Swansea's Morriston Hospital. He never regained consciousness and died six days later on November 7.

John Hultberg, covered in blood, was arrested at the scene and his brother Mark was arrested the following day.

Both admitted the assaults during police interview.

Dale Morris suffered a fractured nose and hand as a result of the assault by John Hultberg and has since had to undergo corrective surgery for the fractures.

Judge John Griffith Williams told the court he wanted an assessment regarding Mark Hultberg's future risk and told him he faced a substantial prison sentence.

The case was adjourned for reports and the two were released on bail. A condition is that they do not drink in licensed premises in the centre of Newport.