Fight Gypsy Killed His Friend

Gypsy John Broadway, 27 of Curry Rivel, Somerset has been sentenced at Exeter Crown Court to serve a fifteen month prison sentence after he pleaded guilty at a manslaughter hearing for killing his friend, Billy Roberts, 42, in a fight outside The Bell pub in Ilminster, Somerset in December of last year.

Mr John Broadway's friend died in hospital after he had sustained injuries to his head which were skull fractures which were caused when his head hit the pavement outside the pub.

The fight happened shorty after the pair had been playing pool, Billy Roberts challenged his friend John to a fight after he had made negative remarks concerning his stepson. Neil Ford QC, the Defence counsel stated to the court: “When one gypsy is asked outside by another he does not back down. When you’re asked to fight you are expected to.”
Ian Pringle QC stated that when Billy Roberts went down for the second time the defendant told him: “Behave now, just leave it.” But Mr Roberts got up and threw more blows. When he fell for the third time there was a “sickening crack” as his head hit the ground.

Broadway had fled to York but later decided to surrender to the police. Mr Ford stated that Broadway had been “invited outside” by Mr Roberts, who was known as a “top dog fighter” who had been known to take part in bare knuckle boxing matches. He said Mr Roberts was determined to continue fighting even though he was getting the worst of it. Judge Graham Cottle stated that he was satisfied Broadway had shown genuine remorse and told him: “The consequences were clearly unintended. Broadway had been challenged to a fight and culturally to refuse was “quite unacceptable”, although that did not make it any less unlawful. It was not the punch from which he died. He died when his head hit the ground."