Thug is jailed for six years for one-punch killing

Vijay Masih had denied the manslaughter of 28-year-old Robert Bavington, who had been trying to act as a peacemaker ­— claiming at Warwick Crown Court he had acted ‘in panic’ in self-defence.

But his story was rejected by a jury, who yesterday unanimously found Masih, 31, of Brook Road, Willenhall guilty of the one-punch killing.

The incident took place in the street near Moo Bar in Russell Street, Leamington, where the two men – who did not know each-other – had been drinking in different groups.

There was an incident in the smoking area outside which led to a confrontation between Mr Bavington’s girlfriend Lauren Paul and two of the women in Masih’s group.

Mr Bavington tried to calm things down and shook hands with a member of Masih’s group – but when Masih then came out of the bar, Miss Paul became involved in a heated argument with him.

Prosecutor Mr Peter Grieves-Smith said Mr Bavington was acting 'as a peacemaker'.

However, after Masih was pushed to the chest by Miss Paul, he then punched Mr Bavington.

This caused him to fall backwards and hit his head, causing fatal injuries from which he died a few hours later.

As Masih walked away he was heard to say ‘I f***ing told him,’ while another witness talked of hearing Masih say: “That’s what happens when you f*** with me.”

Mr Bavington, who lived in Rugby and was the managing director of a web design and digital marketing company called Fly Full Circle, suffered a skull fracture and severe injuries to his brain.

After the jury returned its verdict, Mr Grieves-Smith said Masih had a conviction for battery 12 years ago, and for kidnapping and assault, for which he had been jailed for three-and-a-half years at Wolverhampton Crown Court in 2008.

Mr John Butterfield QC, defending, said Masih had been on an electronically-tagged curfew since his arrest, and half of that time – 214 days – will count towards the time he has to serve.

He also said there was no weapon used and Masih only threw one punch.

Jailing Masih, Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: “The matter was being solved by the obviously decent and responsible Robert Bavington, whose last minutes of life only served to show what a lovely young man he was...

“I am sure Mr Bavington had done nothing wrong. What happened, in my judgement, was a sort of displaced fury which led you to hit him hard instead of hitting Lauren Paul.

“It was a hard punch. People who are punched hard when they’re not expecting it are vulnerable. It was a cowardly act. He went crashing to the ground and sustained fatal injuries.

“Your immediate reaction was not one of compassion, but of cocky self-justification.

“Of course you did not intend to kill him or that he should sustain really serious harm – but you must have realised he had done so, and you just marched away.”