A man has denied manslaughter in connection with the death of a bus driver following an assault on Battersea Bridge in London.
Gary Jones, 32, appeared at Kingston Crown Court via a video-link from HMP Wandsworth on Monday charged over the death of Sergei Krajev.
The defendant spoke only to confirm his name and enter a not guilty plea to a single count of manslaughter.
Mr Krajev was assaulted following a confrontation on the pavement while his bus was parked at a stop shortly before 12.30am on May 18, the Metropolitan Police said
The 64-year-old was taken to hospital by London’s Air Ambulance but died the next day.
Jones was arrested on the day of the incident on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and later charged with the offence.
This was replaced with a charge of manslaughter after Mr Krajev died, prosecutor Nathan Rasiah KC told the court on Monday.
A trial date was fixed for April 12 next year at Kingston Crown Court.
It is expected to last for 10 days.
Jones, of no fixed address, was granted conditional bail until then.
