Man found guilty of manslaughter after body pulled from Birmingham canal

Man found guilty of manslaughter after body pulled from Birmingham canal Cain Watson has been convicted of manslaughter in relation to the death of Darren Round, who was pulled from a canal in Birmingham nearly six years ago A man has been convicted of manslaughter over the death of a man who was pulled from a canal in Birmingham six years ago. Cain Watson, 33, was charged with murder last year in relation to the death of 48-year-old Darren Round, who was found in the water near Masshouse Lane in Kings Norton on February 15, 2020. Watson, of Dornie Drive, Kings Norton, denied the offence and went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court earlier this month, Birmingham Live reports. On Thursday, a jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of the alternative charge of manslaughter by a majority verdict of 11 to one. Mr Round's body was found in the canal at about 8.30am on February 15, 2020, by members of the public using a towpath in Kings Norton. A post-mortem examination later revealed he had suffered fractures to his face, ribs and neck, as well as significant brain damage. It concluded that he had died from a combination of immersion and blunt force trauma. Opening the case, prosecutor Ben Williams KC said: "He was most likely still alive when he went into the water, though he may well have lost consciousness at or about the time he fell in." Police launched an investigation and analysed CCTV footage of Mr Round's final movements before he disappeared. The jury was told he and Watson had been walking along the canal path in opposite directions. The footage also captured the sound of shouting within minutes of Watson entering the canal path. There was no evidence of anyone else being on the route at the relevant time. Mr Williams said: "We, the prosecution, say Mr Round had been subjected to a serious assault involving a number of heavy blows to his face and chest, and his neck either being struck hard or, more likely, placed under severe, sustained pressure." Watson was interviewed by police in June 2021 after being identified following a media appeal. He initially said he knew nothing about the circumstances surrounding Mr Round's death. He claimed he was "probably in Pigeon Park" - the grounds of St Philip's Cathedral in Birmingham city centre - at the time. When interviewed again in May 2024, he denied knowing Mr Round, but his DNA was found on the victim's jacket. Watson later admitted he had been involved in an altercation with Mr Round and struck him repeatedly, but claimed he had acted in self-defence using reasonable force. He will be sentenced at a later date.