Leicester, United Kingdom: A Leicester man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after a single punch during a confrontation in a city park caused a 62-year-old man to suffer fatal head injuries.
The victim, James McKeown, known to family and friends as Jim, died after being assaulted in Beaumont Park in Beaumont Leys in April.
According to Leicestershire Police, McKeown had been walking home from a nearby pub when he encountered Joshua Moore, 33, who was riding a quad bike in the park with a young child.
Police said Moore confronted McKeown and punched him once in the face. The force of the blow caused the 62-year-old to fall backwards, striking his head on the pavement and suffering a catastrophic head injury.
A member of the public later found McKeown lying unconscious in the park and alerted emergency services. Despite receiving medical treatment, he died a short time later in hospital.
Investigators said Moore briefly placed the victim in the recovery position before leaving the scene without calling an ambulance or contacting police.
File Photo Source Google Joshua Moore
More than an hour after the assault, Moore approached officers at the police cordon surrounding the park and admitted that he had punched the victim.
Detectives later examined Moore’s mobile phone and alleged that, instead of seeking emergency assistance, he spent time dealing with personal matters, including cancelling a tattoo appointment scheduled for the following day, before reporting himself to police.
Moore, of Fowler Close, Beaumont Leys, was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. After McKeown died from his injuries, the investigation was upgraded to a murder inquiry.
At Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, Moore pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He is due to be sentenced on 31 July, when the court will determine the length of his prison term.
