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Man jailed for Defoe manslaughter Man jailed for Defoe manslaughter
(about 1 hour later)
A man who killed the half-brother of Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe has been jailed for three years.A man who killed the half-brother of Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe has been jailed for three years.
Father-of-three Jade Defoe, a 26-year-old rapper, was punched to the ground in Newham, east London, in April 2009, the Old Bailey heard.Father-of-three Jade Defoe, a 26-year-old rapper, was punched to the ground in Newham, east London, in April 2009, the Old Bailey heard.
Mr Defoe, known by his middle name Gavin, sustained fatal brain damage and died four days later.Mr Defoe, known by his middle name Gavin, sustained fatal brain damage and died four days later.
Christopher Farley, 34, of Kingswood Road, Leytonstone, east London, was convicted of manslaughter.Christopher Farley, 34, of Kingswood Road, Leytonstone, east London, was convicted of manslaughter.
'Powerful punch''Powerful punch'
Farley rode up on a BMX bicycle to confront Mr Defoe and start a row before knocking him unconscious, the court heard.Farley rode up on a BMX bicycle to confront Mr Defoe and start a row before knocking him unconscious, the court heard.
He later told officers he had accused Mr Defoe of breaking into his house but was angered that the other man did not seem to take him seriously.He later told officers he had accused Mr Defoe of breaking into his house but was angered that the other man did not seem to take him seriously.
Mr Defoe fractured his skull when he fell to the pavement.Mr Defoe fractured his skull when he fell to the pavement.
Gavin's death will have a permanent, significant impact on all our lives Judy Cobham, Jade Defoe's motherGavin's death will have a permanent, significant impact on all our lives Judy Cobham, Jade Defoe's mother
His brother Jermain, who is five months younger, rushed to his bedside from training with Tottenham Hotspur after learning he was unlikely to survive.His brother Jermain, who is five months younger, rushed to his bedside from training with Tottenham Hotspur after learning he was unlikely to survive.
Jailing Farley, Judge Stephen Kramer said: "The unintended consequence of what you did in anger by that single, powerful punch has had the result of depriving a family of a son, brother and father."Jailing Farley, Judge Stephen Kramer said: "The unintended consequence of what you did in anger by that single, powerful punch has had the result of depriving a family of a son, brother and father."
Farley, who went on the run for a week before handing himself in to police, had admitted to detectives he had a "bad temper".Farley, who went on the run for a week before handing himself in to police, had admitted to detectives he had a "bad temper".
He was overheard by a prison officer during a telephone conversation saying: "I did it - just one of those things."He was overheard by a prison officer during a telephone conversation saying: "I did it - just one of those things."
The court heard he had a criminal record dating back to 1988, with offences including burglary, assaulting a police officer, possessing class B drugs and having a CS gas canister.The court heard he had a criminal record dating back to 1988, with offences including burglary, assaulting a police officer, possessing class B drugs and having a CS gas canister.
'Second injury''Second injury'
In a victim impact statement, Jade Defoe's mother, Judy Cobham, said: "Through Farley's lack of self-control, my three grandchildren have been left without a father, I have been left without a son, and my Ryan has been left without a brother.In a victim impact statement, Jade Defoe's mother, Judy Cobham, said: "Through Farley's lack of self-control, my three grandchildren have been left without a father, I have been left without a son, and my Ryan has been left without a brother.
"Gavin's death will have a permanent, significant impact on all our lives," she added."Gavin's death will have a permanent, significant impact on all our lives," she added.
Farley, 34, told police he had a "bad temper"Farley, 34, told police he had a "bad temper"
Investigating officer Det Insp John Sandlin said: "It was a senseless loss of life, that has left the victim's family distraught.Investigating officer Det Insp John Sandlin said: "It was a senseless loss of life, that has left the victim's family distraught.
"Farley has now been sentenced, but in addition to the punishment he has received from the courts, he has to live with causing the death of Gavin for the rest of his life.""Farley has now been sentenced, but in addition to the punishment he has received from the courts, he has to live with causing the death of Gavin for the rest of his life."
On Thursday, when the jury reached their verdict, a note was handed to Judge Kramer that said: "The verdict on Christopher Farley should not mask the culpability of Whipps Cross intensive care unit."On Thursday, when the jury reached their verdict, a note was handed to Judge Kramer that said: "The verdict on Christopher Farley should not mask the culpability of Whipps Cross intensive care unit."
During the trial, Farley's lawyer Imran Khan said that while he admitted throwing the punch which landed Mr Defoe in hospital, it had been failings in his hospital treatment that had caused his death.During the trial, Farley's lawyer Imran Khan said that while he admitted throwing the punch which landed Mr Defoe in hospital, it had been failings in his hospital treatment that had caused his death.
Mr Khan told jurors the injuries caused by Farley would normally have a 96.5% to 99% survival rate.Mr Khan told jurors the injuries caused by Farley would normally have a 96.5% to 99% survival rate.
He said a "second significant injury" was caused by his hospital treatment which "dwarfed" what had happened to him before. He said a "second significant injury" was caused by his hospital treatment which "dwarfed" what had happened to him before and said that "medical negligence" led to his death.
But Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said while there may have been "shortcomings", such as a delay in transferring Mr Defoe to a specialist unit, these were not so bad as to render what Farley did to put him in hospital "irrelevant".
Judge Kramer said the treatment the victim received at the unit was "at best sub-optimal" but told Farley: "That was only part of the story."Judge Kramer said the treatment the victim received at the unit was "at best sub-optimal" but told Farley: "That was only part of the story."
"Your unlawful act in punching him, causing him serious head injuries, significantly contributed to his death," he added. "Your unlawful act in punching him, causing him serious head injuries, significantly contributed to his death," he told Farley.
A Whipps Cross Hospital NHS Trust spokesman said: "The trust's concern is that Mr Defoe's family should understand what the clinical team did for Mr Defoe at Whipps Cross, so we will be writing to them as a matter of urgency to offer them a meeting with the doctors and other clinical staff to give them full details of the care provided.
"The trust has set up an inquiry into Mr Defoe's treatment and will share its findings with his family, who will be involved at the earliest opportunity.