The attack on James Howard-Jones took place on April 24, after the young man and his friends had an argument with a group of people in a bar. Once out of space, a member of the other group, identified as Ben Davies, stopped James in the street and beat him, knocking him unconscious and, according to doctors, brain dead.
“Arrangements were made for organ donation and transplantation. We agreed that this process would be postponed for a week so that family and friends could say goodbye to James,” the young man’s father explained in court.
As the family prepared to take out the machines that were still keeping James alive, the young man regained consciousness, although he initially communicated only through his eyes.
Ben Davis was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after admitting to unintentionally causing serious bodily harm to the victim. When reading the verdict, the judge reminded the aggressor that at the end of his sentence he will be able to continue his life, while James Howard-Jones has injuries that will accompany him until the end of his life.
James Howard-Jones needs help with simple things like going to the toilet – and even getting around in a wheelchair is a challenge. “My son’s future looks bleak right now,” the father complained in court.
“It destroyed the life and hopes of Mr. Howard-Jones – a young man in the prime of his life with everything to live for. He also broke the hearts of his family and friends,” the judge said.
Source: DN
