Joel Paul, 27, has avoided a jail term for a vicious biting attack on his brother Jorlin Paul at their home in Dalton Street, Wolverhampton. Part of Jorlin's lip was torn off during the incident, which took place on January 2, 2024.
Jorlin rang 999, telling an operator "my lip is bitten off, literally". The severed part of his lip, with hair attached, was later found on the hallway floor by police. As officers waited with Jorlin for paramedics, he went into cardiac arrest and later died.
Attack details and 999 call
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the property was split into three flats, with a family occupying one and the brothers living in the other two. A 999 call was made by the family just before 11.55pm on January 2, 2024. The family said the brothers were 'drunk' and were 'kicking' their front door, prosecutor Miss Walton said.
Both brothers were also 'shouting', 'acting aggressive' and 'demanded' to be let in. The court heard how the family were so scared that they used their settee as a 'barricade' in front of their door. Miss Walton said there came a point when the 'banging and knocking' stopped - but this was 'short lived'. Joel returned and said "I bit him, I bit him" as he kicked the family's door again. The incident lasted between 30 and 40 minutes, Miss Walton said.
Injuries and police response
Jorlin then called 999, telling the operator that his brother 'had bit his face off'. When asked if he needed help from paramedics, he said: "Yes, ambulance as well. My lip is bitten off, literally." Jorlin was asked who was responsible for his injury and he gave his brother's name and date of birth.
Police arrived at the scene and noticed that Jorlin had 'significant facial injuries', including a 'severed lip' and bite marks on his cheek and nose. 'Part of his lip' with 'hair on it' was found in the hallway, Miss Walton said. Officers put it 'on ice' but were told by hospital staff that 'little' could be done in terms of reattachment.
Jorlin suggested to officers at the property that 'he had bitten the lip off himself' and that he had been 'drunk' when he dialled 999. He went on to say 'someone like a brother to him' was responsible.
Death and post-mortem findings
Just before 1.30am, Jorlin's condition deteriorated and he was put into the recovery position, with efforts made to move his tongue out of the way. He went into cardiac arrest and CPR was performed, with an ambulance requested again. Paramedics arrived and performed further CPR but Jorlin could not be saved and was pronounced dead at 2.10am.
A post-mortem indicated he had a cut to his right eyebrow, a bite mark, and bruises to his nose. There was an area of tissue loss to the left lower lip, which exposed the underlying fat, along with a bite mark to the left cheek. Jorlin also suffered an abrasion to his cheek region, as well as bruising to his eyelid, jaw and eyebrow.
Court proceedings and sentence
In his interview with the police, Joel suggested he was attacked by his brother and acted in self-defence. He accepted biting his brother's lip, describing how he thought he had 'bitten the cheek but could not be sure', Miss Walton said. Joel - who had no previous convictions - admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Mr Lanlehin, defending, said Joel 'accepts full responsibility for his involvement'. The incident was a 'tragic one between siblings' which had 'gone completely wrong', Mr Lanlehin said. Joel, now of Merridale Road, Wolverhampton, is 'remorseful' and 'deeply regrets' what happened.
Sentencing, Judge Perry noted that Joel was not charged with causing the death of his brother. He said a pre-sentence report indicated Joel had 'poor emotional regulation and conflict resolution skills'. Medical evidence also indicated that injuries to Jorlin would have been 'permanent', the judge said.
Judge Perry told the court that Joel has served the equivalent of a 43-month sentence while on remand. He handed the defendant a 24-month sentence, suspended for two years, with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 26-day programme requirement on Tuesday, August 18.
