The family of a man who was killed after being crushed by a car while trying to protect his stepson are disgusted after a coroner recorded an open verdict yesterday.

Lee Walsh, of Mullins Road, Egham, died during a fight over his stepson's ex-girlfriend Laura Warsfold on Saturday, August 3, last year.

Woking Coroner's Court heard how 38-year-old Mr Walsh attacked Lee Salsbury, who was believed to be Miss Warsfold's new boyfriend, after hearing him shout down his phone that he was going to kill his stepson Mark Priestman.

Mark's brother Jamie told the inquest that he heard him shout "Get him out here, I'll have him, I'm going to kill him."

Neighbours described how they saw Mr Walsh and the two brothers punching Mr Salsbury in his car in Roundway before Mr Walsh threw himself on the bonnet of the 4x4. During the fracas other members of the Walsh family arrived and tried to stop the dispute.

Neighbour William Davis, described how the car crept forward "as if to try to give him a chance to get off" but Mr Walsh clung on.

Another onlooker, Deborah Buckley said: "Lee (Salsbury) was driving off with him (Mr Walsh) on the bonnet and braked suddenly. Then he fell on the floor and the vehicle spun towards him."

The car ran him over and sped off. Jamie tried to resusciatate his choking stepdad but he died in hospital the following day.

A postmortem examination found Mr Walsh died as a result of crush injuries. The Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to bring about a prosecution. Recording an open verdict coroner Dr Karin Englehart said: "I've taken this as far as I am able to."

Speaking outside court, Jamie, now 21, who was given the chance to question Mr Salsbury but stormed out through frustration, said: "I'm disgusted."

Mr Walsh's wife, Jane, paid tribute to her husband of 13 years, a plumber at Shepperton Studios, and said: "He was funny, lovely, kind and caring. He fell straight in to family life. There was nothing he didn't love about it."

She said his death had left a big hole in her life and she had been unable to return to her job caring for old people knowing her husband would never grow old.