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Man who killed banker with one punch cleared of murder Man who killed banker with one punch cleared of murder
(35 minutes later)
An unemployed plasterer who killed a banker with a single punch has been cleared of murder. A man who killed a banker with a single punch has been cleared of murder.
Trevor Timon, 31, delivered a “powerful” left hook to Oliver Dearlove’s head, knocking him unconscious, a court heard.Trevor Timon, 31, delivered a “powerful” left hook to Oliver Dearlove’s head, knocking him unconscious, a court heard.
The defendant, who had a history of violence, admitted manslaughter, and faces years in prison. But he denied intending to seriously hurt the 30-year-old and said he was just annoyed at one of his victim’s friends for making a racist comment. The defendant, an unemployed plasterer who had a history of violence, admitted manslaughter and faces years in prison. He denied intending to seriously hurt the 30-year-old and said he was just annoyed at one of his victim’s friends for making a racist comment.
Timon, of Plumstead, south-east London, was cleared of murder after a jury deliberated for three hours. Timon, of Plumstead in south-east London, was cleared of murder after a jury deliberated for three hours.
The victim’s mother, Joy Wright, and girlfriend, Claire Wheatley, sat in court throughout the Old Bailey trial supported by other family members. Wheatley appeared shaken and upset as she left the Old Bailey with Dearlove’s family within minutes of the verdict.The victim’s mother, Joy Wright, and girlfriend, Claire Wheatley, sat in court throughout the Old Bailey trial supported by other family members. Wheatley appeared shaken and upset as she left the Old Bailey with Dearlove’s family within minutes of the verdict.
Dearlove, of New Eltham, worked as a relationship manager at Duncan Lawrie Private Bank having previously held a position at Coutts. Dearlove, of New Eltham in south-east London, worked as a relationship manager at Duncan Lawrie Private Bank, having previously held a position at Coutts.
On 27 August last year, he had been eating and drinking in Blackheath, south-east London with friends from Portsmouth University. On 27 August last year, he had been eating and drinking in Blackheath, south-east London with friends from the University of Portsmouth.
At about half past midnight, the group left Zerodegrees microbrewery and walked past Mordens nightclub where Timon had bought champagne for a group of women at a birthday party.At about half past midnight, the group left Zerodegrees microbrewery and walked past Mordens nightclub where Timon had bought champagne for a group of women at a birthday party.
Timon and the women walked along Tranquil Vale to get a cab home when they came across Dearlove and two friends.Timon and the women walked along Tranquil Vale to get a cab home when they came across Dearlove and two friends.
The court heard different accounts from Timon, the four women and Dearlove’s friends on how the violence erupted.The court heard different accounts from Timon, the four women and Dearlove’s friends on how the violence erupted.
One of the women described having a friendly chat with Dearlove after she took off her new high heels to nurse her sore feet. One of the women described having a friendly chat with Dearlove after she took off her new high heels to nurse her sore feet. Dearlove was “polite” as he admired her baby pictures before Timon demanded to know what they were talking about.
Dearlove was “polite” as he admired her baby pictures before Timon demanded to know what they were talking about. She said: “I showed him a picture and he said, ‘Oh wow, he’s really beautiful.’ To myself he was perfectly fine, just polite.
She said: “I showed him a picture and he said, ‘Oh wow he’s really beautiful.’ To myself he was perfectly fine, just polite. “Trevor was walking towards us then there was an exchange of words. Trevor said something like: ‘What are you saying? What’s going on?’ to me or Oliver. It was not the friendliest but it was not overly horrible.”
“Trevor was walking towards us then there was an exchange of words. Trevor said something like, ‘What are you saying, what’s going on?’ to me or Oliver. It was not the friendliest but it was not overly horrible.” Dearlove’s friend Andrew Cook said Timon was angry and came out of nowhere with “bad intentions”. He said: “He was looking for a fight. Not a nice guy. We didn’t know why. It all happened so quickly.”
Dearlove’s friend Andrew Cook said Timon was angry and came out of nowhere with “bad intentions”. Giving evidence, Timon admitted telling the victim: “If you don’t get out of my face I will knock you out”, but said it was just a “figure of speech”.
He said: “He was looking for a fight. Not a nice guy. We didn’t know why, it all happened so quickly.”
Giving evidence, Timon admitted telling the victim: “If you don’t get out of my face I will knock you out,” but said it was just a “figure of speech”.
The defendant, who is mixed race, said he was upset when one of the victim’s friends laughed and called him a “half chap”.The defendant, who is mixed race, said he was upset when one of the victim’s friends laughed and called him a “half chap”.
Afterwards, Timon fled to Ireland to see his mother and sent a series of messages to a close female friend apologising for what happened before handing himself in to police.Afterwards, Timon fled to Ireland to see his mother and sent a series of messages to a close female friend apologising for what happened before handing himself in to police.
He told the witness, who cannot be identified, that he had “mad love” for her, saying: “I’m scared, seriously, proper. He told the witness, who cannot be identified, that he had “mad love” for her, saying: “I’m scared, seriously, proper. I never ever meant to do it … I’m sorry really from the bottom of my heart.”
“I never ever meant to do it ... I’m sorry really from the bottom of my heart.” In the absence of the jury, Courtenay Griffiths QC, defending, tried to block details about Timon’s violent past from being aired in court.
In the absence of the jury, defence barrister Courtenay Griffiths QC tried to block details about Timon’s violent past from being aired in court. But Anthony Orchard QC, prosecuting, successfully argued that Timon’s evidence gave an impression that was at odds with his previous behaviour.
But prosecutor Anthony Orchard QC successfully argued that Timon’s evidence gave an impression which was at odds with his previous behaviour. In February 2008, when he was 22, Timon shouted at a bus driver while brandishing a golf club.
In February 2008, when he was aged 22, Timon angrily shouted at a bus driver, brandishing a golf club. In January 2010, he shouted and swore, saying he would “start fucking fighting” while being restrained by his uncle.
In January 2010, he shouted and swore saying he would “start fucking fighting” while being restrained by his uncle.
On 26 May 2010, Timon was verbally abusive towards a woman he knew and took issue with her talking to another man.On 26 May 2010, Timon was verbally abusive towards a woman he knew and took issue with her talking to another man.
When she said she was talking to her friend, he responded: “No he’s not, I’m going to bang you out,” before punching her in the face. She woke up lying on the ground, according to her account, although there was no medical evidence in the case.When she said she was talking to her friend, he responded: “No he’s not, I’m going to bang you out,” before punching her in the face. She woke up lying on the ground, according to her account, although there was no medical evidence in the case.
Jurors were told that in that case Timon admitted battery, an offence which does not mean he intended to cause harm. In July 2011, Timon tried to punch a barman after being refused re-entry to a pub after closing time, but the blow failed to connect. Jurors were told in that case Timon admitted battery, an offence that does not mean he intended to cause harm.
In July 2011, Timon tried to punch a barman after being refused re-entry to a pub after closing time, but the blow failed to connect.
Sentencing was adjourned until Friday morning.Sentencing was adjourned until Friday morning.