Blackpool: Man guilty of fatal one-punch attack on football fan
Man guilty of fatal one-punch attack on football fan
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Angela Ferguson
BBC News, Lancashire
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Lancashire Police
Jake Balmforth was remanded in custody until his sentencing on 22 May
A man has been found guilty of killing a football fan with a single punch after violence broke out between rival fans following a football match.
Tony Johnson, 55, suffered a fatal head injury outside The Manchester pub on Blackpool promenade after a match between Blackpool and Burnley on the evening of 4 March 2023.
Jake Balmforth, 35, of Tarvin Close, Burnley, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury at Preston Crown Court earlier following a six-day trial.
He was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing set for 22 May.
Mr Johnson had been among a group of Blackpool fans who gathered outside the pub, which was a designated pub for Burnley fans that day, the court heard.
A disturbance followed and CCTV footage showed Balmforth punch Mr Johnson once in the face.
He was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but was pronounced dead on 6 March, having not regained consciousness.
Lancashire Police handout
Tony Johnson never regained consciousness and died in hospital two days later
Speaking after the hearing, Det Chief Insp Andy Fallows, from Lancashire Police, said: "My thoughts remain first and foremost with Tony Johnson's family and loved ones.
"During the trial over the last few days they have had the distressing experience of having to relive the events of that evening in March 2023.
"This case highlights what the tragic consequences can be when violence breaks out."
Nine other men who pleaded guilty to affray will be sentenced at a later date.
Following Mr Johnson's death, his partner paid tribute to him, saying she was "devastated" to have lost her "best friend, life partner and soul mate".
"We all, as a family, are so heartbroken and our lives are never going to be the same," she added.
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"Di herders storm di area, dem first capture some of us [women] dem keep us for a separate place bifor dem attack and start to shoot and kill di men wey no dey lucky to survive." Na so one survivor from di community, Edikwu Ankpali for Apa local goment area of Benue state, wia suspected herdsmen attack, tell BBC Pidgin. as she tori wetin hapun and her experience. Suspected herdsmen bin attack di community between Sunday June 1st and Monday June 2nd. Dem kill pipo, and now, we dey hear tori from di women wey dem also rape. Ova ten women for dat community tori say dem rape dem, some of dem still dey hospital. Women narrate di emotional and sexual trauma wey dem face for di hands of di attackers. One of di victims tell BBC Pidgin say na eight times dem rape her in di space of seven hours. She say afta dem begin attack some of di men, dem begin gang rape women for di community. "Dem rape me rape eight times before day break, odas 10 times. Di herders reach like 50 in number." She tok. 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Some pipo wey dey go toilet come see pipo wey wear all black clothes wey carry guns [AK 47 and AK 49] so dem run back to di village to alert evribody, but bifor pipo go even park dia tins to run comot, di herdsmen don already takeova dos places too." Di community leader say dem still dey retrieve deadi bodi. "Dem just dey kill pipo evriwia, up till now. we still dey find some pipo inside bush becos we neva see dem wit us since dat day. We assume say either dem kill dem or dem capture dem, carry dem go." Di retired immigration officer say dem no go fit secure dia sef sake of say law for Nigeria no dey allow individuals to carry or buy gun just like dat. Im add say na why dem dey beg goment to help dem becos dem no fit do dia farming again and dem dey helpless. "Anytin we plant dem go uproot am, even our well sef dem dey use force dey fetch di water. But our elders bin don warn us make we no react negatively and na wetin we dey do since." Im add say na only men wey fit fight dey for di village now, di women and children run go di local goment headquarters to take cover and im no know how di pipo for village dey take survive. As death toll bin dey increase, police bin deploy tactical teams to flash points as army chief bin also visit communities for di state. 'We dey under seige' - Govnor Alia Meanwhile, Benue State Governor Hycinth Alia tok for Channels TV interview say im no dey see di attacks as clash between farmers and herders, again. Im say specialised killers dey involved and terrorists wey dey engage like say na guerrilla war dem dey fight. "Di way dis attacks come and di intel we receive, na direct and calibrated plan and dem go execute am. Evriday, we dey receive dis intel dem. Of late, each of di intel we receive, 60 to 65 per cent of am dey quite accurate. 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