Man admits to London bar killing

A punch caused Lee Cook's head to rotate and a vein to rupture

A man has admitted to killing a barrister's clerk in a bar in the City of London following a row.

Lee Cook, of Harold Wood, Essex, died after he was punched close to the dance floor at the Alibi Bar on 21 July 2007.

Ricky Maynard, 27, of Woodford Green, east London, admitted manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty to the 21-year-old's murder, which the court accepted.

After the hearing Mr Cook's parents said they felt like the "guilty party for asking for justice".

In May, Pc Adam Lowe, 26, of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who faced same charges, was cleared after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) withdrew the case.

Maynard's had previously denied charges of both murder and manslaughter.

In court today we felt that we were the guilty party for asking for justice against the person who killed our son Karen and Mick Cook

In a statement Mr Cook's parents, Karen and Mick, said: "The family do not accept that the plea to manslaughter by Maynard properly reflects his involvement in the death of Lee.

"The family do not feel that they have been treated with any compassion or understanding by the Crown Prosecution Service.

"In court today we felt that we were the guilty party for asking for justice against the person who killed our son," the statement said.

The court heard Mr Cook, who worked in a well-known City law firm, died after the punch caused his head to rotate and a vein to rupture.

For prosecution David Jeremy QC said: "This awful incident arose as the result of what must have been a very petty dispute relating to a spilt drink or the nature of dance in the club."

Maynard, a product designer, was remanded in custody until the sentencing.