A SOLDIER from North Yorkshire died after being kicked unconscious outside an Austrian nightclub, an inquest heard.

North Yorkshire deputy coroner Geoff Fell ruled yesterday that Corporal Derek Osborne, who was based at Catterick Garrison, was unlawfully killed in Innsbruck, more than a year ago.

Five Austrian men were convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent by an Austrian court following the fracas on February 4, last year.

Cpl Osborne, 31, had been knocked to the ground and kicked.

The men are serving prison sentences of between three-and-a-half and four years.

Cpl Osborne was in the country as part of the British army bobsleigh team. He served with the King's Own Border Regiment.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was severe head injury.