Thatcham man cleared of assault charge

Self defence plea upheld in case involving death of Kingsclere man

AN AMATEUR boxer who punched a man who then suffered a fatal heart attack has been cleared of assault.

Thatcham car salesman Liam Davies, aged 23, initially claimed he had only pushed 54-year-old Patrick Evans, who died days later in hospital.

But he later told jurors at Winchester Crown Court that, although he did strike the face of Mr Evans outside his Swan Street home in Kingsclere, he had acted in self defence after the older man tried to jab him with glass from a broken bottle.

On Thursday, December 17, the jury cleared Mr Davies, of Roman Way, Thatcham, of assault.

The charge related to injuries suffered by Mr Evans in the incident on February 1 last year and not to his subsequent death from natural causes in Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital five days later.

During the trial, jurors heard how Mr Davies, who was staying with his girlfriend in Kingsclere at the time, went outside after hearing a crash outside the front door.

There he saw Mr Evans, who had been returning home from the pub, and the altercation ensued.

Mr Evans' partner told jurors that Mr Davis initially claimed he would never have punched him because he would lose his boxing licence.

North East Hampshire coroner, Andrew Bradley, said that an inquest which was opened into Mr Evans’ death would not be proceeded with, following the verdict.