An expectant father who was killed by a single punch thrown by a cowardly thug in an unprovoked attack died three weeks before birth of his daughter.
Keyron Curtis, 21, suffered a catastrophic bleed on the brain after he was knocked unconscious by Daniel Howells-Thomas outside the Colliers Arms pub in Penywaun, Aberdare, at 1am on October 17 last year.
As a result of the punch, Mr Curtis was knocked to the floor and hit his head on a car door with force before hitting the pavement. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on October 18.
Howells-Thomas, who had previously assaulted Mr Curtis' friend Jordan Stokes minutes before, ran from the scene and was later arrested at his mother's home and asked police "Is the boy ok?"
Read more: Keyron's father delivers powerful message to his son's killer
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday heard Mr Curtis, of Cwmdare, was about to become a father and his daughter Hope was born three weeks after his death, without ever having the chance to meet her Dad.
Prosecutor James Wilson said Mr Curtis had been out with friends and was extremely intoxicated having drunk a large number of Jagerbombs at the Colliers Arms.
Witnesses described the victim as "not knowing what he was doing" but had not been causing any issues or acting aggressively.
In the early hours of the morning it was decided Mr Curtis' friend Mr Stokes would pick him up from the pub and take him home, but when Mr Stokes arrived at the pub he witnessed an altercation outside.
Mr Stokes and his girlfriend Elle Brown saw two men fighting on the ground when another man came forward and kicked one of the men in the head.
Mr Wilson said: "Jordan went over to defuse the situation and said what the man had done was disrespectful, but he was approached by the defendant and punched to the left cheek.
"At this point half a dozen people came around the defendant and they were all shouting and making threats, saying 'we'll have you'."
At this point Mr Stokes and Ms Brown entered the pub to get Mr Curtis, who they immediately saw was stumbling and unsteady on his feet. He was hesitant to leave but Mr Stokes put his hands under his arms and took him to his car.
When they reached the car, Mr Stokes said Mr Curtis was resistant but initially sat in the car until he broke free and got back out. It was at this point Mr Stokes saw Howells-Thomas approach from the right and heard him say "come on then, let's have you".
Mr Wilson said: "He was swearing and trying to start a fight but Keyron didn't say a word. Mr Stokes described the defendant walking towards Keyron, leaned back and with a straight hand punched him to the left side of his face in a sweeping motion.
"This caused Keyron's knees to buckle, there was no resistance and he was instantly unconscious. He fell back and hit his head on the driver's door near the handle".
Other witnesses also described the punch delivered by Howells-Thomas, who was described as "picking on anyone and looking for a fight".
Ms Brown said Mr Curtis had his hands by his side and was not making any threats when the defendant pulled his arm back, rushed over to the victim and used his whole body weight in the punch and hit him with some force. She said despite Mr Curtis falling to the ground, he stood inches away from him and wanted to carry on.
Aaron Davies said he saw Howells-Thomas push through the crowd and punch Mr Curtis with a closed fist to his jaw with considerable force, and another witness said the victim had no chance to defend himself and appeared unconscious the moment he was hit before hitting his head on the concrete kerb.
Bystanders attempted to help Mr Curtis but he was described as "wheezy" and having "purple lips". His family arrived at the scene and paramedics carried out CPR before he was taken to hospital, but he died as a result of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
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Howells-Thomas, of Llwynderi, Penywaun Aberdare, was arrested at 11.35pm on October 17 and initially denied displaying any violence or punching Mr Curtis.
He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault by beating. The court heard he had numerous previous convictions for violence - including assault occasioning actual bodily harm of his former partner and racially aggravated harassment.
Victim personal statements were read out by members of Mr Curtis' family, including his father Scott Curtis and his sisters Jade and Dawn Thomas. They described their lives having been "destroyed" by the loss of their son and brother, and asked for justice.
In mitigation, Lucy Crowther said her client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and wanted to apologise to Mr Curtis' family.
She said: "He did not want this to be the outcome for Keyron Curtis, and as a father of two young children he has some idea of the grief Keyron's family has suffered. He's devastated he's done this to their son and brother. He knows this will have effect on them for the rest of their lives and he know he can't be forgiven by them."
Sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters said the sentence he was about to pass would not be able to "restore life" or properly contemplate the sense of loss felt by Mr Curtis' family. He also said he was bound by guidelines set by others.
The judge added: "The reality here is the evidence establishes your actions had to all intents and purposes extinguished the life of Keyron Curtis of which there was no saving. This case once again highlights the obvious dangers of unrestrained drunken violence by young men. A vicious single blow can and often does, as here, extinguish the life of another.
"It's perfectly obvious what you did that night has destroyed a family left understandably traumatised by the loss. The man you killed was a much loved son and brother and indeed a father to a then unborn child. He was respected by his wider family and the community."
Howells-Thomas was sentenced to nine years imprisonment, of which he will serve half in custody and the rest on licence.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Curtis' family said: "We would like to thank everyone who has supported and helped us over the last few months. Keyron was a true, soft, gentle person who would have done anything for anyone, he will be dearly missed. Keyron was very much loved by us all. If love alone could have saved Keyron he would be here be here with us today.
“We will always love you, Keyron Chopper Curtis."
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