John Guthrie, 39, of Witton Road, Aston, has been convicted of manslaughter following a street attack in Handsworth that left Leban Hussein with severe brain injuries. The victim died almost three years later from bronchial pneumonia. Guthrie now faces a custodial sentence, with Judge Stuart Rafferty KC, sitting at Nottingham Crown Court, stating that “clearly a custodial sentence will follow.”
Attack on the No. 74 Bus and Subsequent Assault
The incident occurred on the afternoon of September 13, 2022, after an argument developed between Guthrie and Mr Hussein on the No. 74 bus. Prosecutor Sally Howes KC told the court that CCTV footage showed both defendants and the victim on the bus, along with a woman who accused Guthrie of “snatching” her mobile phone. All parties got off at the junction of Holyhead Road and Wattville Road.
Miss Howes explained that the woman pointed at Guthrie as he walked away, shouting “give me my phone back.” A public-spirited member of the public then grabbed Guthrie from behind. Mr Hussein approached Guthrie and began slapping and swinging his arms. CCTV showed co-defendant Kristian Haines, 33, of Oxhill Road, Handsworth, walking toward the group and punching Mr Hussein once to the head, causing him to collapse unconscious. As Mr Hussein lay helpless on the pavement, Guthrie approached, bent his leg backwards, and delivered a forceful kick to the head. After the kick, both defendants simply walked off.
Medical Aftermath and Fatal Outcome
Mr Hussein, 38, was initially taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he remained fed through a tube to his stomach until December 2022. He was then cared for at a number of homes before developing bronchial pneumonia, from which he died at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield on July 26, 2025—almost three years after the assault. The court heard that the kick to the head, rather than the punch, was the fatal contact. Miss Howes described the assault as a “joint assault with both men effectively acting as a tag team.”
Verdicts and Sentencing
A jury took three-and-a-half hours to unanimously find Guthrie guilty of manslaughter. They unanimously cleared Haines of the same charge, though he faces sentencing on other charges, including section 20 (GBH) and an unrelated burglary. Judge Rafferty remanded both men into custody, telling Haines: “You have been found not guilty of manslaughter but need to be sentenced for section 20 (GBH) and (an unrelated) burglary.” Both are due to be dealt with on September 14. Guthrie denied kicking anyone during the incident, telling police that Mr Hussein had slapped and kicked him, causing him to fall to the ground. The judge’s remarks confirm that the custodial sentence for Guthrie is forthcoming.
