A MAN has been charged with the unlawful killing of 32-year-old Paul Bowers outside a Sarisbury pub.

Gary Shorney, 34, of Franklin Road, Gosport, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Saturday to face a single charge of manslaughter.

James Kellam, prosecuting, withdrew a previous charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

Flanked by security guards and wearing jeans and a blue shirt, Shorney only spoke to confirm his name and address during the hour-long hearing.

The father-of-two entered no plea and was remanded in custody to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Bowers, a plant operator who lived at Austen Gardens, Whiteley, suffered serious head injuries during the incident outside The Bold Forester pub in Bridge Road at 2am on Wednesday.

He was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital's neurological unit on Thursday night.

The results of a post-mortem show he died from a brain haemorrhage.