Kyle O’Callagan slapped Marcus Carpenter while dragging his lifeless body around in what was described by a judge as a ‘vain hope of reviving him’
A killer dragged a man’s body and slapped him to the face after knocking him unconscious with a punch and causing him a catastrophic brain injury that would cause his death. The shocking attack was caught on camera after the victim was asked to “have a “word” outside by his killer, before he was punched in the face.
Kyle O’Callaghan, 30, punched Marcus Carpenter, 37, outside the Picture House pub in Ebbw Vale on February 21, after he had asked his victim to ‘Do you want to come outside and have a word with me a minute?’. Both men walked to an alleyway outside the pub, where O’Callaghan punched Mr Carpenter to the face.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard they continued talking for a couple of minutes before Mr Carpenter tried to walk away, but the defendant grabbed his fleece and punched him a second time, causing him to snap his head back onto railings. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
In his sentencing remarks to the court, Judge Williams described the lead up to the fatal attack, and O’Callaghan’s callous actions after delivering the blow.
The judge said: “Marcus Carpenter went out on Friday, February 20, to the Picture House Wetherspoons in Ebbw Vale. You (Callaghan) came into the pub later that evening, you headed to the table where Mr Carpenter and his friends were. You recognised one of his friends from him working at a pub in Tredegar.
“You then approached Mr Carpenter and asked who he was, he told you his name and you said ‘Do you want to come outside and have a word with me a minute’.
“You say in your pre sentence report you had heard Mr Carpenter had been saying things about you to other people. You’re very quick to think you have been wronged by others, whatever the truth of the situation.
“Mr Carpenter went outside with you. There didn’t appear to be any bad feeling between the two of you.
“What happened outside the pub was caught on CCTV, you were spoiling for a fight, you felt disrespected.”
Judge Williams continued: “Shortly after leaving the pub you punched Mr Carpenter, it was needless. You continued to behave in an overbearing, aggressive, and animated way towards Mr Carpenter, who at no stage was physical, let alone aggressive, towards you but you were determined to harm Mr Carpenter whatever he did and however uninterested he was in engaging with you.
“Mr Carpenter had his arms to his side when you delivered the final sickening blow, which caused his head to snap backwards, striking the railing. It caused blood vessels to tear which led to bleeding within the brain and ultimately to Mr Carpenter’s death.
“You tried to get Mr Carpenter up, you treated his lifeless body without an ounce of care, concern, or dignity. You dragged him about and slapped him in the vain hope of reviving him.
“Your panic was driven, and driven only, by self preservation. Your selfishness seems limitless.
“When others made proper attempts to help Mr Carpenter, you were long gone.”
The court heard O’Callaghan returned to the pub and told Mr Carpenter’s friend Gethin Williams “I can’t wake him up, he’s not moving. Get him up for me.”
When Mr Williams confronted the defendant and asked him what he had done, the defendant fled the area.
Security staff attempted to provide medical treatment to Mr Carpenter.
The emergency services were called and paramedics arrived at 12.22am on February 21.
Mr Carpenter was taken by Air Ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he received urgent medical attention in an attempt to save his life.
Mr Carpenter was found to have suffered an “extensive and devastating” brain injury.
Some days later, it was established that Mr Carpenter displayed no signs of brain activity and he was declared dead on February 24.
A cause of death was given as hypoxic brain injury through lack of oxygen, an out of hospital cardiac arrest and traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage.
O’Callaghan was identified and arrested on February 24 at an address in Rhymney.
He attempted to escape but was detained on window sill.
During his police interview, he claimed Mr Carpenter became aggressive and reacted by striking him once to the face.
He said he was acting in self defence, and struck him in order to protect himself and create space.
The defendant told officers he was “shocked and distressed” to learn of Mr Carpenter’s death.
O’Callaghan has been sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment, with an extended licence period of four years.
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