Man jailed for killing 'devoted' dad with one punch as he enjoyed night out with son

A man who killed a “devoted” dad-of-three with a single punch while he was on a night out for his son’s birthday has been jailed for five years.

Matthew Carroll, 50, suffered severe brain injuries after being attacked outside a Slug and Lettuce pub by Matthew Mahony, 33, at 1.30am on 29 August last year.

The force of the unprovoked punch broke the victim's jaw, causing him to fall backwards and smash his head on the floor.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at Birmingham's Brindley Place and took Mr Carroll to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4.50pm that day.

A court heard he had been an innocent by-stander when he was attacked by Mahony, who was a complete stranger.

Mahony, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, handed himself into police a couple of days later and went on to admit manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court in December.

The court was told Mr Carroll had been out with his son and friends when a disorder involving a member of the group he was with broke out.

He had been standing outside the bar as the fight began and was punched in the face by Mahony as he tried to diffuse the situation.

Mahony then fled the scene while Mr Carroll was rushed to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital with fatal head injuries.

Detective Inspector Ade George, from West Midlands Police, said afterwards: “This is a tragic case where many people’s lives have been destroyed.

"Mr Carroll was an innocent bystander who tried to diffuse a situation that had got out of control and Mahony mistook this for him being involved, which was not the case.

“Violence is never the answer and sadly this terrible act of violence has left a family without a father and grandfather.”

In a statement, the Carroll family said: “No words can describe the pain and heartbreak that we have been put through during this dark time.

“Our dad was such a kind, loving man and he didn’t deserve this. He had a heart of gold and would put anyone before himself.

"He always made people feel welcome and made people laugh.

“Our lives will never be the same without him.”