‘Selfish’ man who punched dad to death outside Wetherspoons pub jailed for 10 years

Kyle O’Callaghan, 30, launched the cowardly attack on Marcus Carpenter, 37, in an alley outside the Picture House in Ebbw Vale (Picture: PA/Wales News)

A man who killed a ‘beloved’ dad after flooring him with a punch outside a Wetherspoon pub has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Kyle O’Callaghan, 30, launched the cowardly attack on Marcus Carpenter, 37, in an alley outside the Picture House in Ebbw Vale on February 20 because he felt ‘disrespected’.

Both men had gone there with separate groups of friends and Newport Crown Court was told O’Callaghan asked Mr Carpenter to come outside after hearing he ‘had been saying things about him’.

After throwing an initial punch, O’Callaghan carried on trying to argue with Mr Carpenter before landing a second ‘fatal, sickening blow’ while the other man’s arms were down at his sides.

Mr Carpenter collapsed and later died in hospital, having suffered severe head injuries.

O’Callaghan admitted manslaughter and was jailed for 10 and a half years.

Judge Daniel Williams told him: ‘You headed to the table where Marcus Carpenter and his friends were, you recognised one of his friends from him working in a pub in Tredegar.

‘You then approached Marcus Carpenter and asked who he was … You had heard that Marcus Carpenter had been saying things about you to other people.

‘You are very quick to think that you’ve been wronged by others, whatever the truth of the situation.’

The court heard there ‘didn’t appear to be any bad feeling’ between the two men and Mr Carpenter followed O’Callaghan outside.

Once outside O’Callaghan, who ‘felt disrespected’ by Mr Carpenter, struck him in the face.

Judge Williams said: ‘It was needless, you continued to behave in an overbearing, aggressive and intimidating way towards Mr Carpenter, who at no stage was hostile, let alone aggressive, towards you.

‘But you were determined to harm Mr Carpenter, whatever he did, and however uninterested he was in engaging with you.’

CCTV still of the two men outside the Wetherspoons pub (Picture: Wales News)

CCTV footage played to the court showed the two men continuing to speak for several minutes, before O’Callaghan delivered a second punch.

The court heard that, after Mr Carpenter collapsed, O’Callaghan attempted to drag his body and slapped him, before fleeing the scene.

O’Callaghan later told police he had been acting in ‘self-defence’, claiming Mr Carpenter had been aggressive towards him.

Judge Williams said: ‘Your selfishness seems limitless.

Kyle O’Callaghan has been jailed for more than 10 years (Picture: Gwent Police/PA)

‘You claimed at first to be acting in self defence – it was, of course, nothing of the sort.

‘Your actions have caused unimaginable grief, loss and sadness.’

In a tribute Mr Carpenter’s family described him as a ‘beloved son, partner and dad’.

They added: ‘Marcus was one of a kind with the kindest of hearts who would help anyone out he could.

‘His passing has left a massive hole in the lives of everyone close to him.’

Marcus Carpenter’s family paid tribute to him as a ‘beloved son, partner and dad’ (Picture: Gwent Police/PA)

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Blyth said: ‘I’d like to pay tribute to the friends and family of Mr Carpenter who showed great strength and dignity throughout this investigation.

‘I know today’s sentencing of O’Callaghan will never bring Mr Carpenter back. However, I hope this outcome can provide the victim’s family with some measure of justice and allows them to start rebuilding their lives.

‘I also want to thank the support of the local community, some of whom provided vital evidence to us, for their help in bringing O’Callaghan to justice.

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