Latest news with #LeeStarr
The Independent
26-06-2025
- The Independent
Man jailed for killing brother with single punch in drunken fight at motocross
A man has been jailed for two years for killing his brother during a drunken fight. Ben Starr, 35, inflicted a single fatal blow to his brother Lee at a motocross event in Swindon in August last year. Lee Starr, 38, suffered a fatal head injury at the Foxhill motocross event in Upper Wanborough and died later in hospital. At a previous hearing Ben Starr, of Woodside Avenue, Ripley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after asking for a 'Goodyear Indication' from a judge – the maximum sentence he could receive. At a sentencing hearing on Thursday Judge Peter Blair KC, The Recorder of Bristol, jailed him for two years. Sam Jones, defending, said at a previous hearing: 'This case on the facts is, in any view, a tragic case. 'Both the defendant and his brother were intoxicated at the relevant time. ' One of the eyewitnesses to the incident, the defendant's father, refers to in his witness statement of Lee after having punched his brother on two occasions and after the two of them end up on the ground, with the defendant restraining his brother, after which they are separated, he sees Lee direct a kick and a punch towards the defendant. 'The defendant in his own interview with the police describes that kick and punch connecting with him. 'But it is accepted on his behalf that the only evidence of those blows connecting come from him. 'The witnesses at the scene see a kick and a punch directed towards him but not connect with him. 'The basis of plea put forward on the defendant's behalf is that after the two are separated and after the attempted kick and punch are thrown, the defendant then accepts in that context throwing the single punch which he did, which caused the injury.' At that hearing Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said the guilty plea to manslaughter was acceptable. In a statement read to the court, Lee Starr's wife Jaye said: '(Lee) was cruelly and senselessly taken from me and our children. 'I never imagined I would be forced to put into words the unbearable grief that now defines our lives. 'We had a future full of hope, love and dreams together. But that future was stolen from us in a horrific moment, and now every single day is a fight just to keep going without him.' Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker, who led the investigation, said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Lee, who has lost his life in such tragic circumstances. 'A life has been cut short following what should have been an enjoyable weekend at a family event. A single punch has ruined the lives of a family.'
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Man jailed for killing brother with single punch in drunken fight at motocross
Lee Starr, 38, suffered a fatal head injury at the Foxhill motocross event in Upper Wanborough and died later in hospital. At a previous hearing Ben Starr, of Woodside Avenue, Ripley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after asking for a 'Goodyear Indication' from a judge – the maximum sentence he could receive. At a sentencing hearing on Thursday Judge Peter Blair KC, The Recorder of Bristol, jailed him for two years. Sam Jones, defending, said at a previous hearing: 'This case on the facts is, in any view, a tragic case. 'Both the defendant and his brother were intoxicated at the relevant time. 'One of the eyewitnesses to the incident, the defendant's father, refers to in his witness statement of Lee after having punched his brother on two occasions and after the two of them end up on the ground, with the defendant restraining his brother, after which they are separated, he sees Lee direct a kick and a punch towards the defendant. 'The defendant in his own interview with the police describes that kick and punch connecting with him. 'But it is accepted on his behalf that the only evidence of those blows connecting come from him. 'The witnesses at the scene see a kick and a punch directed towards him but not connect with him. 'The basis of plea put forward on the defendant's behalf is that after the two are separated and after the attempted kick and punch are thrown, the defendant then accepts in that context throwing the single punch which he did, which caused the injury.' At that hearing Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said the guilty plea to manslaughter was acceptable. In a statement read to the court, Lee Starr's wife Jaye said: '(Lee) was cruelly and senselessly taken from me and our children. 'I never imagined I would be forced to put into words the unbearable grief that now defines our lives. 'We had a future full of hope, love and dreams together. But that future was stolen from us in a horrific moment, and now every single day is a fight just to keep going without him.' Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker, who led the investigation, said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Lee, who has lost his life in such tragic circumstances. 'A life has been cut short following what should have been an enjoyable weekend at a family event. A single punch has ruined the lives of a family.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced for killing brother in drunken fight
A man has been jailed after killing his brother with a single punch in a drunken fight at a motocross event last year. Ben Starr, 34, of Woodside Avenue in Derbyshire, previously admitted to the manslaughter of Lee Starr in a fight at Foxhill motocross track, in Swindon, in August last year. Lee, who was 38 years old, suffered a fatal head injury and later died in hospital. Starr was sentenced to two years in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire In a victim impact statement read to the court, Lee's wife Jaye Starr said: "Lee was cruelly and senselessly taken from me and our children." On 22 August 2024, their father and their own children witnessed Lee punch Starr twice before both men ended up on the ground, with Starr restraining his brother. They were forced apart by onlookers and a further punch from Starr to Lee proved fatal, as he collapsed on the floor while walking away from his serious injuries. Lee died days later in Southmead Hospital. The court heard both argued with each other in the past, but Starr said he loved Lee and would often go to him for advice. The fight was witnessed by Lee's 13-year-old son, the court was told. Ms Starr said: "I never imagined I would be forced to put into words the unbearable grief that now defines our lives. "We had a future full of hope, love and dreams together. "But that future was stolen from us in horrific moment, and now every single day is a fight just to keep going without him." Sam Jones, defence, said: "This case was a tragedy on both sides. "Ben will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life." Mr Jones called for a suspended sentence as Starr has no previous convictions, and he showed "remorse". However His Honour Judge Blair KC chose to sentence Starr to two years in prison. "Nothing about this case can be described as anything but tragic," he said. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Man dies after assault at Foxhill motocross event Arrest after life-threatening assault at motocross event HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced for killing brother in drunken fight
A man has been jailed after killing his brother with a single punch in a drunken fight at a motocross event last year. Ben Starr, 34, of Woodside Avenue in Derbyshire, previously admitted to the manslaughter of Lee Starr in a fight at Foxhill motocross track, in Swindon, in August last year. Lee, who was 38 years old, suffered a fatal head injury and later died in hospital. Starr was sentenced to two years in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire In a victim impact statement read to the court, Lee's wife Jaye Starr said: "Lee was cruelly and senselessly taken from me and our children." On 22 August 2024, their father and their own children witnessed Lee punch Starr twice before both men ended up on the ground, with Starr restraining his brother. They were forced apart by onlookers and a further punch from Starr to Lee proved fatal, as he collapsed on the floor while walking away from his serious injuries. Lee died days later in Southmead Hospital. The court heard both argued with each other in the past, but Starr said he loved Lee and would often go to him for advice. The fight was witnessed by Lee's 13-year-old son, the court was told. Ms Starr said: "I never imagined I would be forced to put into words the unbearable grief that now defines our lives. "We had a future full of hope, love and dreams together. "But that future was stolen from us in horrific moment, and now every single day is a fight just to keep going without him." Sam Jones, defence, said: "This case was a tragedy on both sides. "Ben will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life." Mr Jones called for a suspended sentence as Starr has no previous convictions, and he showed "remorse". However His Honour Judge Blair KC chose to sentence Starr to two years in prison. "Nothing about this case can be described as anything but tragic," he said. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Man dies after assault at Foxhill motocross event Arrest after life-threatening assault at motocross event HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Man admits killing brother in drunken fight at Swindon motocross
A man has admitted killing his brother with a single punch during a drunken Starr, 34, of Woodside Avenue in Derbyshire, admitted the manslaughter of his brother Lee Starr during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court fatal fight, witnessed by the men's father, broke out when the brothers were at the Foxhill motocross event in Swindon in August last who was in his 30s, suffered a fatal head injury and later died in hospital. The court was told the men's father witnessed Lee punch Starr twice before both men ended up on the ground, with Starr restraining his pair were separated and Lee directed a "kick and a punch" towards Starr, their father told Jones, defending, said Starr told police the kick and punch "connected with him" but witnesses at the scene said the blows "did not connect".Starr was initially charged with grievous bodily harm with intent but was later charged with murder and Jones said Starr admitted manslaughter on the basis he threw a single punch after being separated from his brother, and after his brother's attempt to kick and punch him. 'Intoxicated' "Both the defendant and his brother were intoxicated at the relevant time," he experts were not able to determine the level of force Starr used when he punched his brother, the court Jones said: "It is a tragic case, not least because those who have attended in support of the defendant today are those who have been so affected by the consequence of the alleged incident." Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said the guilty plea to manslaughter was "acceptable" to the Crown Prosecution Service."We accept of course this was a fight between two brothers," he said."Lee certainly called his brother out, they wrestled on the floor and there were blows made by Lee towards Ben and vice versa."The two independent witnesses say that the fight had finished by that stage, so self-defence didn't arise."It was in the context of that - that it was a blow out of anger or indeed another reason, but certainly not self-defence."
