Ex-boxer who killed grandfather with one punch in Leicestershire park jailed for manslaughter

Ex-boxer who killed grandfather with one punch in Leicestershire park jailed for manslaughter Joshua Moore has been jailed after admitting to manslaughter earlier this month - Bookmark A former boxer who fatally punched a man before placing him in the recovery position and then abandoning the scene has been jailed for five years and nine months for manslaughter. Joshua Moore, 34, was observed riding a quad bike "too fast" through a park in Beaumont Leys, Leicestershire, on April 6 when he struck 62-year-old grandfather James McKeown in the face. The blow caused Mr McKeown to fall and hit his head, just three minutes after he had entered the park. Mr McKeown tragically died at the Royal Leicester Infirmary that evening. Members of the public had attempted to assist him as he lay unconscious in a pool of blood, Leicester Crown Court heard. Moore, of Fowler Close, Beaumont Leys, fled Beaumont Park following the attack and returned home. He then attempted to go to a police station, which was closed, before eventually returning to the cordon where he admitted to officers: "I hit him… I slapped him." The defendant, who had been released from prison only two years prior to the attack, had a history of convictions, including an eight-year jail term for a 2016 burglary during which he punched the victim and fractured bones. Moore admitted Mr McKeown’s manslaughter during a court hearing on July 2. During Moore’s sentencing hearing on Friday, some of the victim’s family left the courtroom as a "distressing" nine-second video was played. The footage showed Mr McKeown receiving CPR from a member of the public, with someone heard stating he had no pulse. The video, captured by Moore’s partner and sent to him via Snapchat at 6.24pm, was deleted from the chat at 6.37pm, shortly before he returned to the park to confess his actions. Leicestershire Police stated that Moore "thought it was more important to sort out his affairs," including cancelling a tattoo appointment for the following day, rather than contacting emergency services. Jailing Moore on his 34th birthday, Judge Timothy Spencer KC remarked: "You are a big man, you are a muscular man, you must have considerably worked out over the years. You are a powerful man. "The family understandably ask why you did it. I have asked myself, no doubt you have asked yourself. "I’m quite sure there is more than an element of you wanting to be the alpha male, the macho man. That analysis is echoed in your previous convictions. "You could simply have ridden on, you could have avoided him, you could have avoided any exchange of words. "A truly big man would have done just that. But no, you decided to punch him, with these devastating consequences. "So when one asks the question why, there is no answer – or certainly no adequate answer. It is a question which should rightly haunt you for the rest of your days." The court heard Moore told police he had struck Mr McKeown once in "self-defence," alleging the victim had spat and sworn at him and approached him. However, prosecution counsel stated there was no suggestion Mr McKeown had been aggressive towards his killer. Two teenage boys who later came forward to the police testified that Mr McKeown appeared to say something to Moore as he passed by on his quad bike, before Moore turned, blocked his path, and delivered the fatal punch. In a poignant victim impact statement, Mr McKeown’s partner, Lesley Wakefield, described him as a "gentle, kind man who would never hurt anyone." She added: "Knowing what people are capable of has changed me forever. "Jim was not just my partner, he was my best friend, my support and the centre of our family. His killing has shattered our family in ways that cannot be repaired. "All I want to know is why Mr Moore did what he did – I fear I will never get any answer to this question." Defending Moore, Marie de Redman stated that he is "truly sorry" for what occurred. She said: "The outcome of his actions were devastating and he wishes with his whole heart that he could change what happened. "He is truly sorry for the pain he has caused to Mr McKeown’s family and the life he has taken. "He is somebody who is genuinely remorseful and distressed by the consequences of his actions." Judge Spencer affirmed his belief that Moore’s remorse was genuine. He said: "It was pretty well immediate. It has been underlined by your stance in court. "You have never sought to shirk responsibility. It was clear you accepted responsibility from the start. "Any remorse you express has, understandably, no traction whatsoever with the family of Mr McKeown, but that remorse is palpable and clear to me." The judge highlighted Moore’s previous eight-year jail sentence as a significant aggravating factor. He stated: "It all bears out the fact you are far too quick with your fists and bears out that when you deliver blows, they are powerful and devastating." He concluded: "This attack was committed in the presence of children. You left Mr McKeown on his own on the ground, having knocked him over and, in all probability, knocking him out. "A man much older than you, clearly in distress, lying unconscious on the ground. You simply abandoned him."