Ex-boxer jailed for killing man with single punch

A former boxer has been jailed after killing a grandfather with one punch during a "chance encounter" at a park in Leicester.

Joshua Moore was riding a quad bike with a young child when he confronted 62-year-old James McKeown as he walked home from a pub through Beaumont Leys Park on 6 April.

He threw a punch, causing McKeown to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground.

On Friday, the 34-year-old, of Fowler Close, Beaumont Leys, was jailed for five years and nine months at Leicester Crown Court after pleading guilty to manslaughter earlier this month.

The court heard McKeown, who was known to his friends and family as Jim, had spent the day playing golf and bingo, before going to The Keepers Lodge pub to watch Leicester City play.

After the game, he left the pub to walk home and entered Beaumont Leys Park shortly after 18:10 GMT.

Moore was riding a quad bike with a young boy in the park when he drove near to McKeown, the court was told.

Two teenage witnesses said he was driving at excessive speed for the setting.

The court heard McKeown said something to Moore who turned around on the quad bike and parked in front of the grandfather.

Within seconds, he had punched McKeown who then fell to the floor, the witnesses said.

Moore was seen getting off the vehicle and putting McKeown, who was unconscious, in the recovery position, before leaving the park.

A dog walker found McKeown minutes later and started giving CPR after calling 999.

McKeown was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead a short while later.

The court heard Moore had gone home after the incident, before attempting to turn himself in to a local police station about an hour and 10 minutes later.

The station was closed so he was driven to the scene where he was arrested.

The court heard he had told officers that McKeown had "started" on him and his punch was thrown in self-defence.

His phone was seized and analysis showed he had been sent a Snapchat video by his partner of McKeown receiving CPR, prompting him to ask whether his victim had got back up.

The video was deleted before he turned himself in.

Leicestershire Police also said Moore "thought it was more important to sort out his affairs" straight after the attack, cancelling a tattoo appointment he had the next day, instead of contacting the emergency services.

The court heard a post-mortem examination established McKeown had suffered an injury to his face as well as a blunt force injury.

Moore was charged with manslaughter and pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court on 2 July.

Sentencing Moore, Judge Timothy Spencer KC said: "I'm quite sure that there is more than an element here of you wanting to be an alpha male - a macho man.

"You could simply have ridden on, you could have avoided him, you could have avoided any exchange of words and the truly big man would have done just that.

"But no, you decided to punch him with these devastating consequences.

"When one asks the question why, there is no answer or certainly no adequate answer and it is a question that should rightly haunt you for the rest of your days."

The court also heard that Moore had a number of previous convictions including one of burglary and causing grievous bodily harm for which he was jailed for eight years in 2016.

At that time, he lost his licence as a boxer.

Giving a victim impact statement in court, McKeown's daughter Laura said: "My world has crumbled into a million pieces and there's nothing I can do about it.

"My dad being killed has changed my whole life and me as a person.

"I don't think there has been one day when I have been happy since he died.

"I have not committed a crime but I am facing a life sentence of pain and sadness of not having my dad around any more.

"I may be sad for the rest of my life but what an honour it was to be loved by my dad."

His son, James, added: "He lit up any room he was in and he was always generous and kind.

"My dad wasn't just my dad, he was my best friend and there will always be something missing for me now."

In a joint statement after the sentencing, McKeown's family said: "We want to express our deepest thanks to the two individuals who supported and resuscitated Jim at the scene, ensuring he was not alone and frightened in his final moments of life.

"Your efforts weren't in vain - there were signs of life but the damage to his brain was catastrophic and he sadly passed away.

"We also extend our sincere gratitude to Leicestershire Police for their support and dedication throughout the investigation."

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