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| Forest of Dean hockey stick death: Edward Belson jailed | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who attacked his neighbour with a hockey stick following an argument has been jailed for six years. | |
| A jury heard Edward Belson, 36, battered Christopher Cooling, 44, after Mr Cooling went to his home in the Forest of Dean last August. | A jury heard Edward Belson, 36, battered Christopher Cooling, 44, after Mr Cooling went to his home in the Forest of Dean last August. |
| Bristol Crown Court was told there was "history" between the men and Belson - who denied murder - had drunk eight pints of lager that day. | Bristol Crown Court was told there was "history" between the men and Belson - who denied murder - had drunk eight pints of lager that day. |
| Belson, of Ashton Close in Berry Hill, was found guilty of manslaughter. | |
| During the trial, the jury was told Mr Cooling had been arrested and charged by police the previous week after an argument with Belson's partner. | During the trial, the jury was told Mr Cooling had been arrested and charged by police the previous week after an argument with Belson's partner. |
| On 3 August he confronted Belson at his home and was beaten "severely" with the hockey stick. | On 3 August he confronted Belson at his home and was beaten "severely" with the hockey stick. |
| Mr Cooling staggered home where he was later found by paramedics who were unable to save him. He died three hours later in hospital. | Mr Cooling staggered home where he was later found by paramedics who were unable to save him. He died three hours later in hospital. |
| In court: Steve Knibbs, BBC News | In court: Steve Knibbs, BBC News |
| Christopher Cooling was described in court as a "nuisance" - a drinker and drug addict who would wind people up. But not so much that he deserved to die. | Christopher Cooling was described in court as a "nuisance" - a drinker and drug addict who would wind people up. But not so much that he deserved to die. |
| Last August he had been drinking and went to his neighbour Eddie Belson's house to confront him and sort out their long-standing differences. | Last August he had been drinking and went to his neighbour Eddie Belson's house to confront him and sort out their long-standing differences. |
| He threatened Belson and threw a recycling box at him, saying he was going back home to get a blade. | He threatened Belson and threw a recycling box at him, saying he was going back home to get a blade. |
| But Belson, who had drunk eight pints of lager that day, grabbed his daughter's hockey stick and started to hit Mr Cooling. | But Belson, who had drunk eight pints of lager that day, grabbed his daughter's hockey stick and started to hit Mr Cooling. |
| Belson told the court it was in self-defence, to protect his family, and that he was aiming only for his Mr Cooling's legs and arms to warn him off. | Belson told the court it was in self-defence, to protect his family, and that he was aiming only for his Mr Cooling's legs and arms to warn him off. |
| Det Ch Insp Steve Porter, from Gloucestershire Police, said people's lives had been "absolutely devastated" by what had taken place. | Det Ch Insp Steve Porter, from Gloucestershire Police, said people's lives had been "absolutely devastated" by what had taken place. |
| "The attack certainly was brutal and the injuries were sufficient to cause [Christopher Cooling's] death," he said. | "The attack certainly was brutal and the injuries were sufficient to cause [Christopher Cooling's] death," he said. |
| "The pathologist gave quite detailed evidence of blows to his back which caused the internal injuries which ultimately resulted in his death." | "The pathologist gave quite detailed evidence of blows to his back which caused the internal injuries which ultimately resulted in his death." |
| In a statement, Mr Cooling's family said no court verdict "can ever bring Christopher back" and they "miss him greatly". | In a statement, Mr Cooling's family said no court verdict "can ever bring Christopher back" and they "miss him greatly". |
| "We're aware it's not just our family that has been affected by this tragedy, which shows the dramatic impact the use of violence can have on people's lives," it read. | "We're aware it's not just our family that has been affected by this tragedy, which shows the dramatic impact the use of violence can have on people's lives," it read. |