A MAN who killed a fellow drinker at a Dudley pub by repeatedly stamping on his head as he lay unconscious on the floor has today (July 9) been found guilty of murder.
Dominic Fraser (pictured) stamped on Kevin Hadley – out on a regular drinks night with his father – with such force he left footprint marks across the 30-year-old’s face.
Mr Hadley and 52-year-old Kevin Hadler Snr – both from Slater Street in West Bromwich – each drank around 10 pints of beer on October 16 last year before popping into Great Bridge’s Lounge Bar for a last orders drink.
Hadley Jnr was described as acting aggressively – his self-control “blurred by alcohol” – when he squared up to a group of men playing pool.
It sparked a melee in which the victim was struck with a pool cue swung by 24-year-old Shazad Ali, from Tudor Street in Tipton, before Fraser entered the fray and delivered the fatal kicks. A post mortem examination revealed Mr Hadley died from “blunt force trauma” to the head and suffered a severe brain injury.
Fraser, from Highfield Road in Tipton, claimed he was acting to protect himself and other customers in the pub – but CCTV evidence clearly showed the 29-year-old stamped on Mr Hadley’s face several times while the victim was lying defenceless on the floor.
And at Wolverhampton Crown Court today (July 9) Fraser was found guilty of murder and told he will be handed a life jail term when sentenced later this month alongside Shazad Ali who’d already admitted manslaughter.
Three other men had also admitted their parts in the fight at earlier court hearings.
Roy Cross (30) from Powis Avenue, Tipton, admitted wounding Mr Hadley Snr and trying to wound him by hurling a fire extinguisher towards his head as he lay on the floor.
Sadaquat Ali (31) of Madeley Road, Kingswinford, admitted assaulting Mr Hadley Snr – who was also knocked out in the brawl but later recovered in hospital – whilst a 30-year-old from Tipton admitted threatening behaviour.
Sergeant Mike Griffiths from West Midlands Police’s Major Investigations Team, said: “This is a very sad case in which alcohol has impaired people’s judgement and self-control…and the result is one young man dead and another facing the prospect of being jailed for life.
“It’s undeniable the victim started the altercation – but the level of violence used by Fraser was grotesque and unjustifiable. His lead role in Mr Hadley’s death was confirmed by the conclusive CCTV footage and presence of his footwear imprints on the victim’s face.
“In law, it’s not necessary to prove intent to kill for a murder conviction…an intention to cause really serious injury is enough and the ferocity with which Fraser repeatedly stamped on Mr Hadley’s head was clearly an attempt to seriously harm him.”
The “very close” father and son were among a crowd of football fans who’d gathered at the Lounge Bar ahead of England’s World Cup qualifying game against Poland on October 16 which was called off due to heavy rain.
At 6.15pm they left to continue drinking elsewhere before returning at around 10pm for a final drink en route home.
Fellow drinkers described sensing an uncomfortable atmosphere before Hadley Jnr shrugged off his father’s efforts to restrain him and approached the group.
After striking him across the head with a pool cue, Shazad Ali smashed a bar stool down on the prone victim whilst Roy Cross and Sadaquat Ali attacked Mr Hadley Snr, the former hurling a fire extinguisher which narrowly missed the 52-year-old’s head.
Sgt Griffiths, added: “As Fraser left the pub he kicked Mr Hadley Snr twice in the head as he laid injured on the floor…an act the prosecution said was a telling piece of evidence and summed up his state of mind.
“All five attackers gathered in the car park at the Hen & Chickens pub after the attack before going their separate ways – but all were arrested by police in the following weeks and have been brought to justice.”
In a statement read out in court, Mr Hadley’s mother Marlene described her son as a pillar of support and help who visited her almost every day.
She said: “The day Kevin died was my eldest son’s birthday and the day of Kevin’s funeral coincided with my wedding anniversary. They were once happy days but now they will just be a reminder of losing our son.
“It’s impossible to think of life without him…I am broken and can never be the person I was before and my family will never be the same.”
PHOTO: The Vans trainer worn by Dominic Fraser from which detectives forensically matched the tread to footprints found on the Mr Hadley Jnr’s face.