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Polish man was killed by 'superman punch' from 15-year-old boy, court hears Polish man was killed by 'superman punch' from 15-year-old boy, court hears
(35 minutes later)
A 15-year-old boy killed a Polish man with a “superman punch” that caused him to fall and hit his head on the ground, a court has heard.A 15-year-old boy killed a Polish man with a “superman punch” that caused him to fall and hit his head on the ground, a court has heard.
The youth, now 16 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the manslaughter of Arkadiusz Jozwik, who was known to his friends as Arek. The boy, now 16 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the manslaughter of Arkadiusz Jóźwik, who was known to his friends as Arek.
Jozwik, 40, had been drinking with two friends and had just bought a pizza when he was attacked outside a row of takeaway shops in Harlow, Essex, shortly after 11.30pm on 27 August last year, Chelmsford crown court heard. Jóźwik, 40, had been drinking with two friends and had just bought a pizza when he was attacked outside a row of takeaway shops in Harlow, Essex, shortly after 11.30pm on 27 August last year, Chelmsford crown court heard.
He died in hospital two days later from head injuries.He died in hospital two days later from head injuries.
Rosina Cottage QC, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution does not say that [the defendant] thought for a moment that what he did would result in the death of a man.Rosina Cottage QC, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution does not say that [the defendant] thought for a moment that what he did would result in the death of a man.
“However, we say he moved deliberately around the back of Mr Jozwik to take him by surprise and to hit him from behind. [He] jumped up from the ground using the whole force of his body to hit Mr Jozwik to his head. “However, we say he moved deliberately around the back of Mr Jóźwik to take him by surprise and to hit him from behind. [He] jumped up from the ground using the whole force of his body to hit Mr Jóźwik to his head.
“From what looks to be like a ‘superman punch’ that he threw he must have intended to send the man to the ground.”“From what looks to be like a ‘superman punch’ that he threw he must have intended to send the man to the ground.”
The slightly built boy sat with his parents at the back of the courtroom. The judge, Patricia Lynch, and barristers sat without their wigs and robes due to the defendant’s age.The slightly built boy sat with his parents at the back of the courtroom. The judge, Patricia Lynch, and barristers sat without their wigs and robes due to the defendant’s age.
Cottage said Jozwik had been drinking vodka with his friend Radek Koscelski and they were both “speaking loudly and appeared to be drunk and smelt of alcohol”. She said a third friend, Jakub Lusiecki, drank beer and “appeared to be sober”. Cottage said Jóźwik had been drinking vodka with his friend Radek Koscelski and they were both “speaking loudly and appeared to be drunk and smelt of alcohol”. She said a third friend, Jakub Lusiecki, drank beer and “appeared to be sober”.
The three men sat on a bench to eat pizza near a group of teenagers with bikes who had been there for most of the day. The defendant was part of this group, Cottage said.The three men sat on a bench to eat pizza near a group of teenagers with bikes who had been there for most of the day. The defendant was part of this group, Cottage said.
She said the attention of the Polish men was drawn to the group of teenagers as “something was kicked or thrown close to them” in the Stow shopping precinct. “There was some laughter about their English and one of the teenagers was cycling around the group,” Cottage said.She said the attention of the Polish men was drawn to the group of teenagers as “something was kicked or thrown close to them” in the Stow shopping precinct. “There was some laughter about their English and one of the teenagers was cycling around the group,” Cottage said.
She said Koscelski “was swaying and drunk and may have been argumentative, offering to fight”, but he made no physical contact. Two boys cycled close to Koscelski and Jozwik, which “seemed to spark a disagreement” between the two groups. She said Koscelski “was swaying and drunk and may have been argumentative, offering to fight”, but he made no physical contact. Two boys cycled close to Koscelski and Jóźwik, which “seemed to spark a disagreement” between the two groups.
Showing CCTV footage to jurors, Cottage said it appeared that Koscelski tripped over his own feet then the youth “appears to jump in the air and swing his arm with force to the head of Mr Jozwik”. Showing CCTV footage to jurors, Cottage said it appeared that Koscelski tripped over his own feet then the youth “appears to jump in the air and swing his arm with force to the head of Mr Jóźwik”.
Some of Jozwik’s family were in court, and some left the room as the CCTV footage was shown. Some of Jóźwik’s family were in court, and some left the room as the CCTV footage was shown.
Blood alcohol tests on Jozwik showed he was around twice the drink-drive limit, Cottage said. “Mr Koscelski was clearly very drunk and the deceased Mr Jozwik was also drunk, but the prosecution says there was no need for violence to be offered to either man,” said Cottage. Blood alcohol tests on Jóźwik showed he was around twice the drink-drive limit, Cottage said. “Mr Koscelski was clearly very drunk and the deceased Mr Jóźwik was also drunk, but the prosecution says there was no need for violence to be offered to either man,” said Cottage.
“We say he was not aggressive to the group and certainly not [the defendant].”“We say he was not aggressive to the group and certainly not [the defendant].”
She continued: “For whatever reason, maybe even just immature bravado, the prosecution say [the defendant] took a deliberate decision to use unlawful violence when he went around the back of the group to punch Mr Jozwik.” She continued: “For whatever reason, maybe even just immature bravado, the prosecution say [the defendant] took a deliberate decision to use unlawful violence when he went around the back of the group to punch Mr Jóźwik.”
The trial continues.The trial continues.