“The court system stinks. We are the victims in this.”

You’re not wrong:

Matthew Walsh, prosecuting, said both men were in the street shortly before 2am when their paths crossed.

He said: “What then precisely happened isn’t known.”

He said Newton’s older brother, Ryan, became agressive towards Mr Cox and asked: “What did you say to my brother?”

Mr Walsh said the younger brother said “leave him alone, let him be”, but then launched into a “totally unjustified attack”.

Oh, let me guess? Drink? It's got to be, what else has the power to turn fine, upstanding citizens into lowlife brawling scumbags?

/sarc

Witness Mary Loughran told police the aggression was “all one-sided towards Mr Cox” who “put his hands up, almost pleading, close to tears”, Mr Walsh said.

At this point, someone in the public gallery shouted at Newton: “You’re a ****ing animal.”

I feel I should object on behalf of the animal kingdom...

Mr Walsh continued: “After that exchange, the witness describes the defendant was behind Mr Cox.

“He moved slightly to the side and punched him once, a punch to the top of the neck and lower part of the chin.”

Mr Walsh said the punch was with such force that neighbours heard a loud noise like hands clapping together.

Mr Cox was one and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit. This dilated his blood vessels, making him more at risk from the injury, Judge King was told.

Oh, see, it IS drink! It's even 'responsible' now if you're the victim and you've had a few...

The 18-year-old was jailed at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after earlier admitting manslaughter. It is likely he will be released on parole after serving 18 months in prison.

First offence?

Nah, of course not:

The court heard Newton has previous convictions for robbery, having a prohibited weapon and possessing a bladed article.

Charming...

Nikki Duncan, defending, said: “It’s recognised that this is a tragic case and the consequences of his actions were terrible and have been terrible ever since for Mr Cox’s friends and family, who no doubt have strong feelings about the matter.”

She said her client, who has dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was extremely remorseful and had not had an easy upbringing, moving home 15 times as his mother escaped a violent partner.

*sigh* Was this all true, or was she just phoning it in?

Judge Anthony King told Newton: “This is a truly tragic case.

“For the rest of your life you will live with the knowledge that you are solely responsible for ending another man’s life – a family man with family responsibilities and loved by his family.”

Yeah, I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that it's not going to cause him any sleepless nights...

Friends and family of both sides had to be separated by police after the hearing as tensions spilled over.

Hardly surprising. I wonder if the police felt like standing back. Or maybe giving the Cox family tips?

Mrs Davies, a full-time carer for her husband, who has Hodgkin’s disease, and for her mentally disabled son, added: “There was a sign in the courtroom saying ‘if you take a photo in the court you can be sent to prison for two years’. Two years for taking a photo and three years for taking someone's life. I can’t believe it.”

I wish I could say I couldn't...