Douglas Bennett death: Son 'killed dad with single punch in holiday row over spilt drink'

Fellow holidaymakers at the campsite reported hearing the son shouting angrily shortly after the pair had argued in a bar at the complex

Tragic: Dad Douglas Bennett

Enterprise

A Brit arrested in Spain on suspicion of killing his father may have thrown just one punch in a row over a spilt drink, it was claimed yesterday.
Fellow holidaymakers at the campsite where Douglas Bennett, 69, died reported hearing his son Ian shouting angrily shortly after the pair had argued in a bar at the complex.
Other guests heard a woman scream after the grandfather was punched to the ground.
The accounts came as builder Ian, 45, from Chard, Somerset, was freed on bail yesterday after appearing in court before a judge.
An autopsy over the weekend revealed that Douglas died from a brain injury caused by hitting his head on the ground or against something hard – and not from a blow.
He had been holidaying with his wife Gloria, Ian and Ian’s wife Louisa.
They had arrived at the popular site just hours before the tragedy.

Bailed: Son Ian Bennett

 Robert Wilson, 60, heard screaming close to the bar area after midnight on Friday as lay in bed in his chalet.
The security officer from Sheffield, who is at the Castell Montgri site in Estartit near Barcelona with his grandchildren, said: “I heard a man shouting about it not being his fault and that a woman had spilt the drink on him.

"They argued quite loudly.”
Douglas is believed to have left the bar area with his son at around 12.30am.
The retired building consultant was found unconscious at 12.45am by security staff.
A woman staying close to the mobile home where the Bennetts were said: “It was an argument and one punch was thrown. The dad hit his head when he fell.

“It’s so tragic. This is a happy, family-friendly place.”
A mum, who asked not to be named, added: “I heard a woman scream in the middle of the night. It made me sit up in bed.
"She sounded terrified. We didn’t find out someone had died until the next day.
"You could see the blood on the road next to the bar and pool area where he went down.”


The Bennetts had travelled from Chard as part of a group thought to include Ian’s sons Luke, 20, and Liam, 19.

Douglas is thought to have suffered a fatal head injury.
A source close to the family said: “They’re beside themselves with grief. They have spent most of their time in police stations and a funeral parlour signing paperwork.
“All they want to do is get home as quickly as possible so they can grieve in private and make sure the repatriation of Douglas’ body goes as smoothly as possible.
“They can’t do anything to speed up that process by staying in Spain.”
An undertaker is now waiting for a judge to authorise collection of the body.

Douglas died shortly after being admitted to Girona’s Josep Trueta hospital in a coma.
A search by police found nothing that could have been used as a weapon.
Ian Bennett has not been charged with a crime but was told that a judicial probe will continue.
It is believed he is being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter.
It is not known if he will be allowed to leave Spain while the probe continues.