Colchester: Brodie Groome convicted after one-punch attack

Brodie Groome, 27, threw a punch after a confrontation between two groups in Vineyard Street car park, in Colchester, in August last year.

Steven Warburton, 46, was struck and fell to the ground, suffering a fractured skull when his head hit the floor.

He died weeks later in hospital as a result of a cardiac arrest, which medical experts concluded was a direct result of brain injury he sustained after being punched.

Groome denied manslaughter and said he was acting in self-defence, but was convicted after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Groome, of Sydney Street, Brightlingsea, punched Mr Warburton in the early hours of August 19 during an altercation.

The court was told Mr Warburton had been enjoying a night out in the town centre with his family, who were celebrating the first wedding anniversary of his son and daughter-in-law, Byron and Olivia Warburton.

The jury at heard one of Groome’s friends Josh Sargent aggressively approached Mr Warburton’s wife, Caroline Warburton.

An altercation ensued in which Olivia Warburton to fall to the floor before Mr Warburton senior intervened to help his wife and daughter-in-law.

There was also a clash between Groome and Byron Warburton, who is an Army corporal, the court heard.

The jury was shown video footage of the incident taken by a witness on their phone, as well as CCTV footage from Vineyard Street car park.

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Nicola May, prosecuting, told the court Groome acted in a “thoroughly unapologetic manner”.

She added: “This was not someone who was fearful of his safety, rather, he was in control of the situation.

“The prosecution submit that Groome shouted to Byron: ‘You hit me bruv, so I banged your boy’.

“This does not come close to the defence the defendant has claimed – that he was acting in self-defence.”

Olivia Warburton also gave evidence in court.

She said: “Brodie was trying to escalate things.

“I remember him going into a fighting stance shouting ‘Come on then, come on then, I’m going to kill you’.”

In a witness statement, she said: “He said it loudly and repeatedly, as if he was spitting the words out.

“Brodie then advanced forwards and I remember the fight escalating.”