‘Alpha male’ boxer killed grandad, 62, with one punch in unprovoked attack & left him for dead as kids watched in horror
A FORMER boxer killed a grandad with one punch in an unprovoked attack and left him for dead as kids watched on in horror.
James “Jim” McKeown was found lying on the ground by a member of the public in Beaumont Leys Park, Leicestershire, on April 6.
The 62-year-old had been walking home from a nearby pub when he was viciously assaulted by Joshua Moore, 34, who was riding a quad bike in the park with a young child.
Moore had confronted Mr McKeown and punched him in the face where he fell to the ground and hit his head on the pavement.
He then placed Mr McKeown in the recovery position before fleeing the park without contacting emergency services.
He was raced to Royal Leicester Infirmary but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died a short time later.
Moore was jailed for five years and nine months after pleading guilty to manslaughter at Leicester Crown Court earlier this month.
CCTV footage released by Leicestershire Police show Moore returning to the scene an hour later telling an officer: “I hit him”.
The force said later how Moore clearly thought “it was more important to sort out his affairs” before calling 999.
They added he went as far as cancelling a tattoo appointment he had booked for the next day.
The court heard how Mr McKeown had been found by a passer-by in a pool of his own blood, reports ITV.
Moore is said to have told cops he had struck Mr McKeown in “self-defence” but this was dismissed by prosecutors.
Sentencing Moore on his 34th birthday, Judge Timothy Spencer told him “there is more than an element of you wanting to be the alpha male”.
He said: “You could simply have ridden on, you could have avoided him, you could have avoided any exchange of words.
“A truly big man would have done just that. But no, you decided to punch him, with these devastating consequences.”
Marie de Redman, defending Moore, said the killer was “truly sorry” for what had happened.
Judge Spencer said that Moore had “never sought to shirk responsibility” but said he was “far too quick with your fists”, labelling Moore’s blows as “powerful and devastating”.
He added that the “attack was committed in the presence of children” and Moore had “simply abandoned” Mr McKeown as he lay unconscious on the ground.
Moore’s previous conviction was also a factor in his sentence after he was jailed for eight years for a burglary in 2016 where he had assaulted another victim.
Following the incident, Mr McKeown’s family paid tribute saying: “We have lost a loving father, brother, partner and grandfather, our lives will never be the same again.
“Jimmy has lived locally for nearly 20 years and was well known in the community, affectionately known to many as Spider,” they added.
Detective Inspector Kevin Hames from East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) Murder Investigation Team, said: “Sadly, this is a tragic death that could have been avoided. Moore had a choice that day and should have walked away, without using any violence, Jim posed no threat to him.
“His actions have now left a family devastated at the loss of their loved one.
“The fact that he didn’t make any attempt to contact the emergency services following the incident shows exactly what type of man he is.
“He placed Jim in the recovery position and clearly saw the injuries he had caused but that didn’t stop him from riding away, returning home to organise his affairs before handing himself in.
“Notwithstanding this was a totally unprovoked attack, Joshua Moore should not have been riding a quad bike in the park in the first place.
“While we are pleased that Moore has admitted to being responsible for Jim’s death, there are certainly no winners in the case.
“Jim’s family now face a life without him, and nothing can replace the feeling of that loss. They have shown immense bravery throughout the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. This has in no way been easy for them.
