R v Mark Green
[2023] EWCA Crim 1567
R v Connor Jess Pool
25 July 2023
[2023] EWCA Crim 946
Court of Appeal
A man punched someone, causing their death. He got 9 years in prison, but the court lowered it to 7.5 years because they thought the judge was too harsh.
Key Facts
- •Connor Jess Pool (appellant) was sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment for manslaughter.
- •The manslaughter resulted from a single punch thrown by the appellant, causing the victim, Freddie Fontete-Jones, to fall and hit his head, leading to death three days later.
- •The incident occurred in Salisbury town centre after an altercation between two groups.
- •The appellant's punch was deemed unprovoked, with the victim acting as a peacemaker.
- •The appellant's post-incident actions (leaving the scene, disposing of his phone, delaying surrender to police) were considered aggravating factors.
- •The appellant pleaded guilty but argued for a lesser sentence.
- •The judge classified the offence as Category B manslaughter, citing the force of the punch and high risk of serious injury.
- •The appellant's mitigation included age, good character, limited role in prior events, remorse, and positive prison behaviour.
Legal Principles
Sentencing Guidelines on Manslaughter
Sentencing Guideline on Manslaughter
Outcomes
The appeal against sentence was partially allowed.
The Court of Appeal agreed with the judge's classification of the offence as Category B, but found that insufficient weight was given to mitigating factors and excessive weight to aggravating factors when determining the sentence. The initial sentence of 12 years (before discount for plea) was reduced to 10 years.
The 9-year sentence was quashed.
The court considered that the sentence before the 25% discount for the guilty plea should have been 10 years instead of 12 years. A new sentence of 7 years and 6 months was imposed.