ONE-PUNCH KILLER JAILED
Thug’s brutal blow cost grandad his life
A ONE-punch killer who “enjoyed the adrenaline rush of fighting” has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for taking the life of a grandfather outside a city centre nightclub.
Scott Thompson felled Graham Thurston with a powerful blow after an altercation outside Powerhouse, in Newcastle, in the early hours of the morning.
A court heard after landing the killer punch, the thug “bragged” and said he “didn’t care” if he had killed Mr Thurston before fleeing the scene.
The 34-year-old told a probation officer he likes fighting and was found to have posted a picture of a baby holding a knuckle duster on Facebook with the comment “Going to be a fighter like yourself”.
Now Thompson, who was found guilty of manslaughter, has been locked up at Newcastle Crown Court. He must serve at least two-thirds of the six-anda-half-year sentence and will be on an extended licence until 2027.
It was around 5.30am on August 6 last year that Thompson left the nightclub, having consumed alcohol and cocaine. Mr Thurston, 54, of North Shields, was also under the influence of drink and became abusive to a man of Eastern European appearance, the court heard.
Thompson took exception to this and decided to intervene and confronted Mr Thurston, punching him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Mr Thurston was helped up at that stage and Thompson told a bystander he was going to knock him out.
There were then further aggressive words exchanged between the pair.
Judge Paul Sloan QC told him: “At that point he had walked away from you up the lane and you could simply have ignored him.
“However you had determined to sort him out, so instead of ignoring him you went towards him, crossing the road intent upon a violent confrontation.”
The judge said: “One witness said as you approached him he had his fists up, no doubt expecting another punch from you. But as he did that, he was backing away from you.
“You continued towards him and in what was in my view a premeditated attack, you swung a punch at his face.
“That blow was described as a powerful punch, a ‘big slam’ by one witness.
“It struck Mr Thurston on the left side of his jaw and he fell to the ground. When he did so, the back of his head impacted hard on the pavement.
“A sound could be heard by a number of witnesses, a loud thud. You must have known he was hurt.
“Your reaction, however, was to walk away, leaving him lying unconscious on the ground.”
Thompson then approached the female bystander he had spoken to earlier, saying: “I’ve just knocked him out.”
Thompson then left the scene, later returning to see CPR being administered to his victim.
Despite the best efforts of medics, Mr Thurston, who had suffered a fractured skull and severe brain damage, died later that day.
Referring to a victim impact statement by Mr Thurston’s daughter, Gemma Watson, Judge Sloan said: “It’s clear the killing by you of her father has had a profound effect upon Miss Watson.
“No sentence I am permitted by law to impose could ever serve to ease the pain, anguish and grief she suffers.”
Miss Watson said she had lost her “best friend” and described her dad as her hero and said he loved his granddaughter “to bits”.
The court heard Thompson has previous convictions for offences including assault, carrying weapons and affray.
Thompson, of Medway Crescent, Gateshead, had previously admitted possessing an offensive weapon that night – the knuckle duster – and jurors convicted him of manslaughter.
He still claims he was acting in selfdefence.