Damien Howl killer delivered fatal blow causing friend to hit head

A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a friend after delivering a single punch so strong that it knocked him off his feet, a court heard.

Marcus Parchment, aged 42, hit Damien Howl on the side of the neck which caused him to fall backwards and land heavily following an altercation in West Bromwich.

The victim, also 42, was found slumped in an alleyway off Heath Lane, near Hill Top, at around 5.15am on June 5.

Fatal bleed

He had sustained a fatal bleed in the brain after an artery was severed when his head hit the ground.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died later the same day.

Parchment was arrested shortly after Mr Howl was discovered in the passageway behind the defendant’s home in Heath Lane.

He appeared at Walsall Magistrates’ Court five days later accused of murder.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday he denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

It was said both men were ‘in drink’ and had been taking cocaine that night.

Mr Amjad Malik, prosecuting, said Mr Howl’s spinal column was also broken in the fall.

“But it’s the bleed that caused the major brain damage and led to Damien Howl’s death,” he said.

Pre-existing condition

The court heard that the victim already had head injuries prior to June 5, described as a pre-existing condition but one which did not affect his death.

Mr Malik asked the court for time to study reports from expert witnesses before the prosecution decided whether to accept Parchment’s guilty plea.

Police and paramedics converged on the scene after Mr Howl was found near Heath Lane Cemetery and the road blocked off for several hours.

A statement issued by Mr Howl’s family described him as having “a heart of gold”.

It added: “Damo, as we all knew him, was a loving and funny man who enjoyed being kept busy.

"There are no words to express how devastated we all are at his loss.”

Judge James Burbidge, QC, adjourned the case until the week beginning October 14.