Castlewellan man warned ‘one punch can kill’ before fight

Castlewellan man warned ‘one punch can kill’ before fight

21 October 2020

A CASTLEWELLAN joiner who knocked a man unconscious with a single blow after he was warned that such a punch could kill has been told that he was lucky not to be facing a murder charge.

The warning came from Judge Geoffrey Miller QC as he sentenced Connor James Ward (25), who admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on the man on September 7 last year.

At Downpatrick Crown Court sitting in Belfast on Monday, Judge Miller told Ward, of Leitrim Road, that the warning that punches can kill represented “nothing less than the truth”.

Judge Miller said that had matters turned out differently, Ward might have found himself “facing a charge of manslaughter or even murder”.

Ward, whose claim of self-defence was rejected by the judge, was placed on probation for 18 months and ordered to complete 70 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay his victim £1,000 compensation.

In written submissions, prosecution counsel David McClean revealed that Ward had earlier allegedly assaulted his victim’s son outside a bar in Newcastle where they had all been drinking.

The man had gone to investigate, asking for Ward and demanding to know why he had allegedly attacked his son.

Judge Miller said CCTV footage showed Ward crossing the road and taking off his jacket while pursued by the injured party, before both men turned to face each other. Ward was then seen punching the man “hard to the face”.

“One of the witnesses at the scene saw trouble brewing and shouted over that one punch could kill,” he judge continued.

The injured party later had to undergo surgery for fractures to his face and skull. During interview Ward, claiming he was acting in self-defence, told police his victim was “trying to kill me”.

Judge Miller said that while it was agreed the injured party approached Ward before following him across the road, which he described an unwise move probably borne out of anger and possible drink, he presented no physical threat to Ward, who was a much younger and heavier man.

The judge added that he considered Ward removing of his coat “to be a clear notice of intent on his part”.

“I am satisfied that this is not a case of self-defence but, rather, deliberate aggression on the defendant’s part.”