Tragic End to Friendship After Drunken Dispute
A man from Birmingham has admitted to killing his friend during a violent argument that erupted after a 12-hour drinking session. The fatal altercation, which began over a broken television and a debt concerning a mobile phone, led to the death of 45-year-old Francis Leitner.
Andrew Behan, 41, carried out three separate assaults on Mr Leitner in less than an hour on December 21 last year. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras in the Aston area, providing crucial evidence for the case.
A Series of Violent Assaults
The violence began outside the Select Xpress off-licence on Wyrley Road. CCTV footage showed Behan grabbing and headbutting Mr Leitner, before shoving him against a car and delivering a second headbutt. This first attack occurred just after Mr Leitner had purchased 11 cans of beer.
The pair then returned to their shared taxi, where they continued to argue intensely. The disagreement was so severe that the concerned taxi driver felt compelled to call the police after dropping them back at their House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) on Wyrley Road.
Back at their home, CCTV recorded another confrontation. Mr Leitner was heard saying, "I'm going to call the police. I thought you were my friend. You're not my friend. Look at my face. I'm f***ing bleeding." Behan retorted by bringing up their financial dispute, shouting, "How are you my friend? You wouldn't give me £40 to buy a phone and smashed up my TV."
The argument escalated further when Mr Leitner took out his phone. Behan attempted to snatch it, leading to a tussle. Behan then slapped and punched Mr Leitner in the face. Minutes later, he elbowed the victim and delivered two more punches, threatening, 'give it me now before I f***ing kill you'.
Fatal Consequences and Court Proceedings
Following the attacks, Behan left the property and went out to continue drinking. Mr Leitner, a Brazilian national, refused an invitation to join him and instead caught a taxi to Good Hope Hospital. During the journey, he made a heartbreaking phone call to his son, stating, 'you will be contacted if I'm dead'.
At the hospital, Mr Leitner's consciousness rapidly deteriorated and he was transferred to intensive care. Doctors discovered a bleed on his brain that could not be treated. His life support was switched off on December 23, and he was pronounced dead.
A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was a head injury, specifically a subdural haemorrhage. The court heard that individuals with alcoholism are particularly prone to such injuries.
Behan was arrested at 1.40am on December 22 after returning to the HMO and kicking Mr Leitner's bedroom door in. He initially faced a murder charge, but this was dropped after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
During a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on November 21, prosecutor Matthew Brook KC outlined the case. He explained that the dispute partly stemmed from an incident the previous day, where Behan had used his own money to help retrieve Mr Leitner's phone, which had been taken by another individual as collateral for a debt.
When an emotional statement from Mr Leitner's son was read in court, Behan, appearing via video link from HMP Hewell, was heard sobbing and said 'I'm sorry'. His defence barrister, Lee Marklew KC, stated that his client had no idea of the victim's underlying fragility and was deeply upset by the death of his friend.
Behan, a father-of-two, has battled alcoholism for years but has become sober while in custody. Judge Andrew Smith KC is scheduled to pass sentence on Wednesday, November 26.
