A bouncer has been found guilty of killing a fellow doorman outside a Birmingham city centre cocktail bar. Richard Deakin, 38, delivered a single punch to Joshua Johnson-Hector, 31, outside Savanna in Bristol Street in the early hours of December 28 last year.
Fatal Punch Caught on CCTV
CCTV footage captured Deakin punching Johnson-Hector, who fell backwards and hit his head on the pavement. He died in hospital the following day from internal brain damage caused by the fall.
Prosecutor Matthew Brook KC told Birmingham Crown Court: "That punch, and it was a heavy punch, caused Joshua to fall backwards on to the pavement and hit the back of his head leading to internal brain damage. The following day as a direct result of that brain damage, as a direct result of the punch, Joshua Johnson-Hector died."
Self-Defence Claim Rejected
Deakin, of Moorfield Drive, Halesowen, claimed he acted in self-defence, saying he felt threatened after previous "cross words" with the victim. He told police there had been tension between them since a prior incident at Wireless Festival, where Deakin claimed Johnson-Hector tried to "sneak somebody in" and he had to turn him away.
Deakin said he had heard "whispers" that Johnson-Hector was unhappy with him. On the morning of the incident, Johnson-Hector arrived at Savanna in a blue Mercedes at 4:08 am. Deakin said the victim greeted him with "wagwan Tommy," using his nickname, but accepted that Johnson-Hector did not throw a punch.
Deakin claimed he delivered a "pre-emptive" strike in self-defence to create space and move past Johnson-Hector to his car. He described it as a "knee-jerk panicked reaction" and said, "I wasn't looking to do some mad finishing shot it was a quick shot."
Kickboxing Background
Deakin, a former kickboxer, told police he had "not meant to cause that level of impact." However, the jury rejected his self-defence claim and found him guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday, July 15, after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Deakin left the scene after the punch and was later arrested at his home in Halesowen. Sentencing was adjourned until October.
