A man who died in hospital the day after an assault outside of a Norfolk pub suffered a traumatic head injury in the incident, a court has heard.

Michael O'Dwyer died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on July 21 this year at the age of 31.

An inquest for Mr O'Dwyer opened on Tuesday, during which the cause of his death was revealed.

The court heard that Mr O'Dwyer, who was known to some as Michael Spooner, had been admitted to the hospital following an altercation outside of the Red Lion pub.

The incident happened on the evening of July 20, after which Mr O'Dwyer was able to return to his home in Neatherd Road, an 11-minute walk away.

But the next morning he had to be admitted to hospital, where he died.

Tyrone Busch, 40, has been charged with his murder, having been arrested by the police while visiting another pub seven miles away four days after the fight.

He is set to go on trial next year, with a provisional date set of January 20.

During a short hearing at Norfolk Coroner's Court to open Mr O'Dwyer's inquest, area coroner Samantha Goward confirmed that he had been born in Limerick, in the Republic of Ireland.

She added that he was employed as a labourer at the time of his death and was living at an address in Dereham.

Mrs Goward said that the medical cause of his death was a traumatic head injury.

Following Mr O'Dwyer's death, his family released a statement which said: "Michael was a kind and gentle soul who always saw the best in people and wanted the best for them.

"He is greatly loved by his family and his many, many friends and that love will always remain.

"Michael adored his two sons and has been taken from them far too soon.”