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14:13 GMT, Friday, 3 July 2009 15:13 UK

Two are jailed after punch death

Two men have been jailed after being convicted of killing a 40-year-old man.

Jonathan Bennett was unconscious from a punch when his head hit the ground outside a bar at Rhyl, Denbighshire, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.

He suffered severe brain damage and died in hospital two weeks later.

Thomas Bryan, of Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, was jailed for three years after admitting manslaughter. Peter Roberts, of Llanddulas, Conwy, was jailed for 18 months.

The court head that Byran, 45, a roofer, delivered two "ferocious blows" when Mr Bennett was attacked from behind outside the Grapevine bar in February.

It followed both men being ejected from the bar, Mr Bennett from the front of the premises and Bryan from the rear.

'Chilling'

The earlier trial of Roberts heard that the 36-year-old stonemason then pointed out Mr Bennett to his friend, and cleared a path for Bryan to attack him.

Despite not hitting Mr Bennett himself, Roberts was convicted by a jury of manslaughter for his role in the violence.

Mr Justice Nigel Davis told the pair: "I think it quite chilling what you did thereafter. You must have known Mr Bennett was lying totally out of it on the ground.

"You simply sauntered off, congratulating each other at what happened."

However, the judge said both defendants were "decent" men and neither intended really serious harm to Mr Bennett.

"In one sense it was hideous mischance that he died," the judge added.




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Related to this story:
Man is guilty of bar manslaughter (19 Jun 09 |  North East Wales )
Man dies two weeks after attack (14 Feb 09 |  North East Wales )


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