Ryan Patient has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Jake Rainton.
Patient, 25, of Midland Road in Rotherham, killed Jake in a one-punch attack following a night out in Huddersfield on July 15 last year.
Jake, 23, from Golcar, died after suffering a head injury, jurors were told during the nine-day trial at Leeds Crown Court. As she opened the case last Tuesday, Michelle Colborne KC said Jake had been on a night out with friends and was outside Truth bar in Cross Church Street when he came into contact with Patient, his brother and friends who had been out on a stag do.
Read more: Ryan Patient verdict live as jury decides his fate in Jake Rainton manslaughter trial
Jake was also been out with a group of his friends and was spotted by a member of Mr Patient’s group. Ms Colbourne said: “A man [from Mr Patient’s group] had their attention drawn to the deceased and two of his friends. They thought that group of three were arguing. They were noisy, calling one another names and pushing one another.
“It is likely they were being silly in drink. Having seen what he thought was trouble unfolding he shouted at the deceased to stop. He [Jake] and his friend shouted back they were friends and the man’s girlfriend told him to let it be.”
The court heard Jake and his friend crossed the street to join the man. Ms Colbourne said: “Neither one touched one another or used any violence or on audio of what we can perceive, threatened any violence to one another.”
(Image: Reach PLC)
It was said Mr Patient’s friend tried to “diffuse” the situation as Jake wanted to know why they were shouting. Ms Colborne said Mr Patient and his brother arrived and were told by his friends to “go away” but he “did the opposite”.
She said: “Without warning or provocation he punched the deceased, connecting with his jaw, knocking off his feet. He hit the shutters behind him as he fell, lifeless, striking his head again.”
As one of Jake’s friends attempted to lift him, he dropped him from a sitting position, causing him to fall again, but neurologist Dr Daniel Du Plessis told jurors it did not explain a diffuse traumatic axonal injury, with which a height of the fall and heavy weight would.
He said: “It is a simple matter of physics that the lower the level, the less it is going to be. You can sustain potential serious injury if he was limp but you have to think why he was limp anyway.”
(Image: Andrew Robinson)
He said the diffuse traumatic axonal injury “must have been caused” when he fell from a greater height. He gave a cause of death of traumatic blunt force head injury “from a heavy fall from a standing height” and said Jake was not aware of anything after the punch.
He said: “The manner he fell would suggest deep concussion so I think he would have been unaware from the moment he began falling.”
Jurors also heard evidence from Patient who said he was “scared” and it was just “instinct” to punch him. He told jurors he was “worried” for his friend when Jake approached the group.
The jury was sent out shortly after 10.30am on Thursday to deliberate its verdict and returned at 2pm – due to a delay this was not delivered to the court until 3.00pm.
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