This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/7106027.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Single punch killer found guilty | Single punch killer found guilty |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A former soldier has been convicted of killing with a single punch a 19-year-old man who defended a young woman on a night out in Cardiff. | |
| Peter Muscat, 20, was found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court of the manslaughter of hairdresser Michael Evans. | Peter Muscat, 20, was found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court of the manslaughter of hairdresser Michael Evans. |
| Mr Evans was attacked after calling: "It's wrong to hit a woman" when he saw her being pushed by another reveller. | |
| Muscat, said to have resented the intervention, denied manslaughter and will be be sentenced next month. | |
| Muscat, from the Grangetown area of the city, was found guilty by a jury, and was remanded in custody. He had claimed he had acted in self-defence. | |
| It was a heavy punch from a man who had some limited boxing experience in the past - he knew how to deal a heavy punch Prosecutor Timothy Evans | It was a heavy punch from a man who had some limited boxing experience in the past - he knew how to deal a heavy punch Prosecutor Timothy Evans |
| The court was told Muscat, who had boxed in the past, hit Mr Evans so hard he dropped to the ground "like a felled tree". | The court was told Muscat, who had boxed in the past, hit Mr Evans so hard he dropped to the ground "like a felled tree". |
| Mr Evans, of the Llanrumney area, spent six days on a life support machine at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff before his parents took the decision to switch it off. | Mr Evans, of the Llanrumney area, spent six days on a life support machine at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff before his parents took the decision to switch it off. |
| Prosecutor Timothy Evans said: "Michael was with his friends when he saw a youth push the young woman. | Prosecutor Timothy Evans said: "Michael was with his friends when he saw a youth push the young woman. |
| "It led Michael to comment: "It's wrong to hit a woman". | "It led Michael to comment: "It's wrong to hit a woman". |
| Michael Evans died six days after he was punched by Muscat | Michael Evans died six days after he was punched by Muscat |
| "Muscat resented that intervention and picked on Michael who was the smallest in the group and punched him in the face. | "Muscat resented that intervention and picked on Michael who was the smallest in the group and punched him in the face. |
| "It was a heavy punch from a man who had some limited boxing experience in the past - he knew how to deal a heavy punch." | "It was a heavy punch from a man who had some limited boxing experience in the past - he knew how to deal a heavy punch." |
| Mr Evans hit the ground so quickly he did not put his arms out to stop his head from hitting the pavement, the court was told. | Mr Evans hit the ground so quickly he did not put his arms out to stop his head from hitting the pavement, the court was told. |
| Prosecutor Timothy Evans said: "It was a strike in anger and resentment". | Prosecutor Timothy Evans said: "It was a strike in anger and resentment". |
| The court heard that Muscat told police: "I only hit him once to shut him up for five minutes." | The court heard that Muscat told police: "I only hit him once to shut him up for five minutes." |
| Mr Evans was assaulted as he walked with friends along Trinity Street, near the Howells department store, on 14 November last year. | Mr Evans was assaulted as he walked with friends along Trinity Street, near the Howells department store, on 14 November last year. |