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Bedfordshire Local News, Local News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Man is cleared of death rap but jailed for brawls
A scaffolder has been cleared of the manslaughter of family man Paul Mondon.
Marc Allen, 24, was told by a Judge he had been ‘hot headed, drunk and probably affected by drugs’, but the jury had cleared him of responsibility for the death of the 47-yearold from Flitton, Beds.
But on Friday at Luton Crown Court he was jailed for being involved in two brawls in Dunstable that took place on the same night.
Mr Mondon, who is survived by his wife Karen and three children, died after an incident on October 9 last year which took place in High Street South, Dunstable.
During the trial at Luton Crown Court the jury had heard how Mr Mondon had gone into Dunstable on October 8 to meet old school friends for some drinks.
In the early hours of the following morning he took umbrage when he believed he had been deliberately shoulder barged by the two younger men.
There was a confrontation in which he could be seen on CCTV throwing a punch at Allen of High Street, Leagrave.
He was punched back and the blow caused an invisible injury which rapidly led to his death.
The prosecution claimed that Allen and friend Gavin Langford, 27, of Victoria Street, Dunstable, were very drunk and spoiling for a fight.
They also alleged that their behaviour during the confrontation with Mr Mondon and his friends amounted to an affray.
Allen and Langford both denied two charges of affray.
Langford was cleared of both charges while Allen was convicted of the affray offences but cleared of manslaughter.
He was jailed for 21 months.
Judge Michael Baker QC said he could see there was a rational explanation for the verdicts the jury reached.
There had been no evidence that the kick played any part in causing Mr. Mondon's death.
Referring to Mr Mondon the Judge said: “It is very clear from personal statements I have read that his death has caused a devastating loss to his family.
“He was plainly a decent man.
“It may be he acted a little hot-headed that night but no rational person could suggest he deserved what he got. It was deeply unfortunate.”
A scaffolder has been cleared of the manslaughter of family man Paul Mondon.
Marc Allen, 24, was told by a Judge he had been ‘hot headed, drunk and probably affected by drugs’, but the jury had cleared him of responsibility for the death of the 47-yearold from Flitton, Beds.
But on Friday at Luton Crown Court he was jailed for being involved in two brawls in Dunstable that took place on the same night.
Mr Mondon, who is survived by his wife Karen and three children, died after an incident on October 9 last year which took place in High Street South, Dunstable.
During the trial at Luton Crown Court the jury had heard how Mr Mondon had gone into Dunstable on October 8 to meet old school friends for some drinks.
In the early hours of the following morning he took umbrage when he believed he had been deliberately shoulder barged by the two younger men.
There was a confrontation in which he could be seen on CCTV throwing a punch at Allen of High Street, Leagrave.
He was punched back and the blow caused an invisible injury which rapidly led to his death.
The prosecution claimed that Allen and friend Gavin Langford, 27, of Victoria Street, Dunstable, were very drunk and spoiling for a fight.
They also alleged that their behaviour during the confrontation with Mr Mondon and his friends amounted to an affray.
Allen and Langford both denied two charges of affray.
Langford was cleared of both charges while Allen was convicted of the affray offences but cleared of manslaughter.
He was jailed for 21 months.
Judge Michael Baker QC said he could see there was a rational explanation for the verdicts the jury reached.
There had been no evidence that the kick played any part in causing Mr. Mondon's death.
Referring to Mr Mondon the Judge said: “It is very clear from personal statements I have read that his death has caused a devastating loss to his family.
“He was plainly a decent man.
“It may be he acted a little hot-headed that night but no rational person could suggest he deserved what he got. It was deeply unfortunate.”
