‘I find it impossible to accept he’s gone’ Remembering CJ
HE was my little ray of sunshine.” These are just some of the heart-breaking words from the mother of Christopher “CJ” Hall who was killed by Tom Bryan and Michael Saunders on a night out last year.
The 28-year-old had been attacked on the evening of July 7 last year after he was chased down an alleyway in Cheltenham.
Following a 12-day trial at Bristol Crown Court the jury found Bryan, of Priory Street, Cheltenham, guilty of manslaughter. He was acquitted of murder. He was jailed for 13 years.
Michael Saunders, 25, from Delavale Road in Winchcombe, pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years.
Tom’s sister Lauren Bryan, 28, of Alstone Lane, has pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting the commission of assault or affray. She was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
The pair had disguised themselves with a hood and clothing wrapped around their heads when they were dropped off by a car in the lower High Street.
Saunders ran at Mr Hall without warning and punched him forcefully, before Bryan caught up and they both chased CJ into an alleyway as he tried to escape.
The court heard how Mr Hall was punched, stamped and jumped on during the attack in which he suffered extensive damage to his head and neck. He suffered unsustainable brain damage and died the following day, July 8, 2018.
An investigation by the regional Major Crime Investigation Team followed where CCTV footage from more than 100 cameras were trawled through to unravel who had been responsible for Mr Hall’s death.
Bryan was seen on CCTV cameras at a petrol station on July 7.
The jury heard about the distinctive red shorts he was wearing. He told them a person he wouldn’t name took them out of his washing machine while he was in Cardiff
On the night of the attack Bryan had been wearing distinctive red shorts and the team were able to trace his movements throughout the day and leading up to the assault.
Bryan, of Priory Street, Cheltenham was arrested in a hotel in Cardiff in the early hours of July 9. He had more than £2,000 in cash and his passport.
He took to the witness stand during his trial and said that he had kicked Mr Hall no more than twice in the legs and did not intend to cause serious injury.
The jury was told Bryan was angry at Mr Hall as he was alleged to have burgled his sister Lauren Bryan’s home in July the previous year. Mr Hall denied the allegation.
On the night of the attack Bryan’s sister Lauren had been at the Frog and Fiddle Pub with friends when she saw Mr Hall and became involved in an argument with him. Lauren spoke with her brother on the phone and was heard shouting to Mr Hall that her brother was on the way.
In court in December last year she admitted an offence of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, namely assault or affray, which relates to that phone call, made to her brother Tom, who turned up with Saunders and attacked Mr Hall.
Following the guilty verdict Mr Hall’s mother, Donna Brown, paid tribute to her son.
She said: “CJ was my only child and I’ve always had a close bond with him. “He was a sensitive, loving and tactile person and his family meant the world to him.
“CJ had a massive smile and infectious personality that would brighten the room when he walked in. He had a heart of gold and he was my little ray of sunshine. “My son was born on January 2, 1990 at Cheltenham Hospital. CJ grew up and spent his whole life in the Cheltenham area. “He attended Gardners Lane Infant School, Elmfield Junior School and finally Pitville secondary school. His Headmistress described him as being a ‘cheeky chappy with a cheeky smile.’ “He was brought up closely with his aunties Kelly and Hayley Brown. “I find it impossible to accept that he has gone, but what is hardest for us is the brutality in which he was taken. There will never be justice for me, his father and our family, as nothing will bring our CJ back. We have been handed a life sentence of loss and no sentence will ever be enough to pay for what has happened to him.
“I want to thank all of the Major Crime Investigation Team, the senior investigating officer DI Neil Rice, my family liaison officers DC Faye Satchwellbennett and DC Bernie Harding, and everyone that has worked on this investigation to get justice for CJ.” Mr Hall’s grandmother, Veronica Hall, said: “I will never forget being told that my grandson, CJ has lost his life after being attacked. When they destroyed my grandson’s life they also destroyed my own.”