News Beat
Brit, 34, beaten to death in Canada after horror late-night attack as man, 30, ‘fled scene’
A BRIT living in Toronto was allegedly beaten to death outside a venue after a fiery row with another man.
Luke Kellett-Smith, 34, was out in the early hours of December 28 last year when he was reportedly involved in a heated argument with Benard Emeka Oneh.
Emeka Oneh, 30, allegedly assaulted Luke, formerly of Woking, and sent him flying to the ground after the first blow.
When Luke got up, the suspected killer was accused of assaulting him again, which caused him to lose consciousness, the Toronto Police Service said.
The alleged deadly brawl broke out in the area of Front Street West and University Avenue.
Oneh, who resides in the Richmond Hill area, allegedly fled the scene while Luke was transported to hospital and placed on life support before he was pronounced dead on New Year’s Eve.
The 30-year-old has been charged with manslaughter after initially being charged with aggravated assault.
He appeared in court on January 5.
It is not known whether the two men knew each other.
Luke has been remembered as a “cherished son, grandson, brother, uncle and friend”.
He had been living in the Canadian city since 2019 where he built “a life full of adventure, friendship and possibility”.
His best mate Jack Elton said: “Luke truly loved life and lived it to the fullest, making friends and connections everywhere he went.
“Whether you knew him for five minutes or for five years, Luke left a lasting impression.
“Standing at 6’5”, Luke was a gentle giant in every sense.
“Kind, warm, and full of life, he had a heart as big as his presence.”
Luke, the eldest of three brothers, lost his younger brother.
Horndean FC paid tribute to Luke, whose brother Matt plays for the club.
The club said: “As a club, we send our love to the family, friends and loved ones of Luke.”
A GoFundMe has been set up by Jack to bring Luke home to Woking, Surrey, organise his funeral and help support his parents, Nick and Mariella Smith.
Jack said: “Luke will be forever loved, forever missed, and never forgotten.”
Last March, another Brit was allegedly beaten to death by a group of bouncers outside a karaoke bar in Bangkok.
Nick Weir, 28, is said to have been behaving erratically before trying to force his way into the venue.
But the Brit, from Wiltshire, was kicked out before two male bouncers on a motorcycle chased him.
Thai police said they attacked him in a nearby alleyway but then called the emergency services when he was knocked unconscious.
An ambulance arrived and paramedics performed CPR but the Brit was pronounced dead at the scene around 200 metres from the bar.
