Jury discharged at one-punch assault trial

A jury has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict at the trial of a NSW pizza shop owner who said he acted in self-defence when he fatally punched another man on the Central Coast.

George Joseph Habkouk, 50, pleaded not guilty to assault causing the death of Haydn Butcher outside a hotel during New Year's celebrations in January 2018 on the basis of self-defence and defence of another.

The defence claimed Habkouk floored Mr Butcher five seconds after the 30-year-old stranger "coat-hangered" his young female employee, but the Crown contended his response wasn't reasonable in the circumstances.

The NSW District Court jury retired on Wednesday after a one-week trial but was discharged by Judge Jonathan Priestley on Friday afternoon after being unable to reach a verdict.

Habkouk remains on bail and his case will return to court for mention on March 29.