Man is guilty of bar manslaughter

Peter Roberts said he had no idea his friend was going to punch the victim

A 36-year-old man has been convicted of manslaughter outside a wine bar even though it was accepted that he did not lay a finger on the victim.

Peter Roberts, 36, had denied killing Jonathan Bennett, 40, from Rhyl, Denbighshire at Mold Crown Court.

Another man, Thomas Bryan, 45, from Rhuddlan, admitted manslaughter. Roberts from Llanddulas was convicted at the end of a week-long trial.

Roberts was remanded in custody. Both men will be sentenced in two weeks.

Mr Bennett died nearly two weeks after being punched twice from behind by Bryan outside the Grapevine Bar in Rhyl on 1 February.

The prosecution said Bryan had been ejected from the rear door of the bar and the victim was ejected via a front door.

Spectacles

Roberts went out of the back door with his friend after restraining Mr Bennett and both walked down a rear alley and back to the front of the club where Bryan hit Mr Bennett twice.

He fell to the ground, suffered a severe brain injury when his skull was fractured. He died two weeks later without regaining consciousness at The Walton Neurological Centre on Merseyside.

The prosecution said that Roberts played a supportive role. They said he had walked purposefully to the front of the club with Bryan, he had pointed out Mr Bennett to Bryan possibly because he had taken his spectacles off ready for a confrontation.

He also cleared an area of people so that Bryan could punch his victim, patted him on the back as they left in a congratulatory way, and then punched his fist into his own hand.

Roberts said he had no idea that his friend was going to punch Mr Bennett.

He said he was walking to the front of the bar with Bryan in order to return to the premises.

He said he had not intention of seeking out Mr Bennett, did not clear an area of people and if he did pat Bryan on the back, it was to get him away from the scene.