Man jailed for fatal one punch attack outside pub

A 41-year-old man has been jailed after killing another man with a single punch outside a pub.

Michael O'Dwyer was found unconscious at his home the morning after being struck in the jaw outside the Red Lion pub in Dereham, Norfolk, on 20 July.

Tyrone Busch, of Withburga Lane, Dereham, was sentenced to eight years in prison and a further four years on licence for one count of manslaughter.

Judge Alice Robinson described the incident at Norwich Crown Court as "serious unprovoked violence".

The court heard Busch punched Mr O'Dwyer, 31, at about 19:30 BST, causing him to fall to the floor.

CCTV footage shown to the court showed him lying on the floor for 10 minutes before eventually coming to his feet and leaving the premises.

Police said he was helped home by friends, but that emergency services were called to him at about 05:00 on the Sunday.

He died in hospital later that day.

A post-mortem examination concluded the victim died from a traumatic head injury which would have evolved over the subsequent hours.

Busch and Mr O'Dwyer had been in the same circle of acquaintances and had spent the afternoon together before the incident.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said: "They appear to have been comfortable in each other's company."

Mr O'Dwyer was described as being devoted to his two young sons, and in a statement, his partner told the court how he loved Christmas and celebrating birthdays with his boys.

After a police manhunt, Busch was found in a toilet cubicle at the Beeston Ploughshare pub in King's Lynn three days later.

Originally, he was charged with murder, but a guilty manslaughter plea was accepted by the prosecution in December.

Ed Renvoize, defending, told the court Busch was "remorseful".

"Mr Busch knows that he has ruined a number of people's lives," he said.

"This was a single punch with tragic consequences."

Supt Stuart Chapman, who led the police inquiry, said: "This was a shocking assault which came out of nowhere causing a catastrophic injury to a defenceless man.

"When people resort to such senseless violence the consequences can be tragic and far-reaching as this case sadly shows."

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