A FORMER boxer killed a grandad with one punch in an unprovoked attack and left him for dead as kids watched on in horror.
James âJimâ McKeown was found lying on the ground by a member of the public in Beaumont Leys Park, Leicestershire, on April 6.
The 62-year-old had been walking home from a nearby pub when he was viciously assaulted by Joshua Moore, 34, who was riding a quad bike in the park with a young child.
Moore had confronted Mr McKeown and punched him in the face where he fell to the ground and hit his head on the pavement.
He then placed Mr McKeown in the recovery position before fleeing the park without contacting emergency services.
He was raced to Royal Leicester Infirmary but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died a short time later.
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Moore was jailed for five years and nine months after pleading guilty to manslaughter at Leicester Crown Court earlier this month.
CCTV footage released by Leicestershire Police show Moore returning to the scene an hour later telling an officer: âI hit himâ.
The force said later how Moore clearly thought âit was more important to sort out his affairsâ before calling 999.
They added he went as far as cancelling a tattoo appointment he had booked for the next day
The court heard how Mr McKeown had been found by a passer-by in a pool of his own blood, reports ITV.
Moore is said to have told cops he had struck Mr McKeown in âself-defenceâ but this was dismissed by prosecutors.
Sentencing Moore on his 34th birthday, Judge Timothy Spencer told him âthere is more than an element of you wanting to be the alpha maleâ.
He said: âYou could simply have ridden on, you could have avoided him, you could have avoided any exchange of words.
âA truly big man would have done just that. But no, you decided to punch him, with these devastating consequences.â
Marie de Redman, defending Moore, said the killer was âtruly sorryâ for what had happened.
Judge Spencer said that Moore had ânever sought to shirk responsibilityâ but said he was âfar too quick with your fistsâ, labelling Mooreâs blows as âpowerful and devastatingâ.
He added that the âattack was committed in the presence of childrenâ and Moore had âsimply abandonedâ Mr McKeown as he lay unconscious on the ground.
Mooreâs previous conviction was also a factor in his sentence after he was jailed for eight years for a burglary in 2016 where he had assaulted another victim.
Following the incident, Mr McKeownâs family paid tribute saying: âWe have lost a loving father, brother, partner and grandfather, our lives will never be the same again.
âJimmy has lived locally for nearly 20 years and was well known in the community, affectionately known to many as Spider,â they added.
Detective Inspector Kevin Hames from East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) Murder Investigation Team, said: âSadly, this is a tragic death that could have been avoided. Moore had a choice that day and should have walked away, without using any violence, Jim posed no threat to him.
âHis actions have now left a family devastated at the loss of their loved one.
âThe fact that he didnât make any attempt to contact the emergency services following the incident shows exactly what type of man he is.
âHe placed Jim in the recovery position and clearly saw the injuries he had caused but that didnât stop him from riding away, returning home to organise his affairs before handing himself in.
âNotwithstanding this was a totally unprovoked attack, Joshua Moore should not have been riding a quad bike in the park in the first place.
âWhile we are pleased that Moore has admitted to being responsible for Jimâs death, there are certainly no winners in the case.
âJimâs family now face a life without him, and nothing can replace the feeling of that loss. They have shown immense bravery throughout the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. This has in no way been easy for them.
âMoore now faces a lengthy term in prison, and I hope it gives him the opportunity to reflect on his actions.
âI would also like to thank the community of West Leicester for their support in the investigation and thank the members of the community who unlike Joshua Moore, stopped to provide care to Jim.â








