Clubber who killed 'hero' dad by punching him outside nightclub jailed for manslaughter

A man who repeatedly punched a 51-year-old dad outside a nightclub, killing him, has been jailed for manslaughter. Kevin Taylor fell backwards and hit his head after he was struck multiple times by 33-year-old Kejuan Malone at around 5am in December last year.

Mr Taylor, whose children described him as a hero who taught them love and kindness, struck his head on the pavement and lost consciousness. CCTV of the incident showed that he lay on the floor for "some time" before a member of the public administered first aid as they waited for the paramedics to arrive. A policeman described the indifference of other clubbers to Mr Taylor's plight as "harrowing".

Today at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Malone, who had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced to 5 years behind bars. Appearing for his sentencing via video link from HMP Birmingham, Malone appeared to watch intently as the CCTV footage was played to the court. He looked down as Mr Taylor's daughter, Chantel, told the court her family had been filled with grief following his death.

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The court heard how Malone, of Hall Green, Birmingham, made no attempt to help Mr Taylor as he lay unconscious, and instead left the scene in a car with his friends. The two men had both been customers at the De Code Lounge in Walsall during the evening of December 7, and had an argument outside the club before the attack took place. Malone was identified from CCTV and identified by detectives who arrested him two days later. CCTV footage from outside the club showed Mr Taylor moving from group to group, talking to different people and "trying to be sociable" before he approached Malone and his firneds, who he did not know.

The interaction appeared, at first, to be cordial, but Mr Taylor was then seen appearing to lightly push Malone who "took exception" to the actions and hit the victim twice in the face. After getting his phone out to start filming, someone else knocked the device to the ground and as he bent over to pick it up, Malone punshed him again twice in the head and neck. The final punch was more "forceful", the court heard, and led to Mr Taylor stumbling backwards and hitting his head on the pavement.

The court was told no-one initially came to help Mr Taylor as he lay unconscious, with some bystanders taking pictures and videos of him as he lay on the ground. A member of the public did try to give him first aid and paramedics were called, but they could not save him and he was pronounced dead at 5.20am.

Mr Taylor's daughter, Chantel, described her dad as a "kind and selfless man", adding that the family had to ask for financial help to return his body to Zimbabwe for his funeral. Calling him a pillar of the Zimbabwean community, she said: "Since that day our lives have been filled with grief, pain and a deep sense of loss none of us can describe.

"He was always the first to give even though he didn't have much himself. He never missed a chance to uplift others. He was a man of deep faith. He had a positive outlook on life that inspired everyone around him. Losing him so violently has broken us all. Every day is a reminder of what we have lost."

Jailing Malone for five years and four months, Judge Michael Chambers KC accepted Malone felt genuine remorse for his actions and had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the earliest opportunity, but said it would have been obvious to him at the time that Mr Taylor was vulnerable and intoxicated. He said: "“As a result of your unlawful violence in a public place, you caused the untimely death of Mr Taylor.

“He was clearly a decent, hard-working family man. He was obviously much loved. He was clearly and obviously vulnerable because he had had a lot to drink, as he was perfectly entitled to do. Mr Taylor can be seen moving from group to group in a perfectly proper and lawful manner.

“There was some sort of altercation resulting in his pushing you with his left hand. On any view, it was a gentle push and it did not justify the assault by you on him. His death was caused, in effect, as a result of blunt force head trauma. This wasn’t a one-punch manslaughter.

“Although there was a push by the deceased, it constitutes minimal provocation. It must have been obvious to you he had had a great deal to drink. This was a sustained assault in a public place and you did not remain to assist.”

In January this year, the Walsall Council revoked the premises' licence at the town centre nightclub following Mr Taylor's death. said it had 'no confidence' that Discotheque.Life could be run safely. Superintendent Pervez Mohammed called for an urgent review, which heard Mr Taylor had only ‘taken a few steps’ when he was involved in an altercation with someone who had also left the venue.

West Midlands Police licensing officer Jennifer Mellor told the council hearing the CCTV footage of the incident as ‘heartbreaking’. In her statement, she said: “From CCTV footage, what appears to be security staff from the venue who had witnessed the male on the floor and in close proximity failed to report this matter to the police.

“We believe at least two members of the security team at the venue were in the presence and witnessed the victim on the floor after the event. As a licensing officer, I am appalled at this lack of reporting.

“People disperse, as do the door staff; the venue is closed, and the shutters come down whilst the male is left outside on the pavement. My Taylor is seen by CCTV operators who saw a member of the public carrying out CPR. It is at this point the CCTV operators alert the police and ambulance service. This is 25 minutes after the assault took place.

“During the time period, Mr Taylor lay on the floor, and the venue or staff did not phone the police or ambulance service. They did not report this to management as the owners informed the police they were not aware of the incident. They did not preserve the scene, the venue closed the shutters leaving an injured male on the floor outside their venue.”

West Midlands Police Sergeant James Whittaker said the CCTV footage was ‘harrowing’. In his statement, it said: “The CCTV footage shows the offence being committed and once Kevin Taylor was on the floor, metres away from the venue itself, there appears to be staff that had either been hired or employed by Decode night club that had gone over to Kevin Taylor and failed to assist in any way, either medically or supportively to ensure that he was OK.

“It was harrowing to witness so many members of the public, which includes door staff, look at Taylor on the floor and not offer any intervention and in most circumstances, stand, stare and take photos and/or videos of Taylor on the floor.”

The council hearing also heard of other , and concluded by revoking the licence.

Following his death, Mr Taylor's children said: "Dad, you were our hero, a guiding light who taught us love, kindness, and resilience. Your generosity and unwavering support touched so many lives, and your memory will forever live in our hearts. We love you deeply and will honour your legacy always.”

The parents of Mr Taylor – who was also known as Taisekwa - said: "Our beloved son Taisekwa, your kindness and compassion were a blessing to all who knew you. You brought joy and pride to our lives, and your selflessness touched hearts far and wide. Though you are gone, your legacy of love will forever remain with us. We will miss you dearly, our precious child.”

Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt, who led the investigation, said: “This is a tragic case. Mr Taylor was enjoying a night out when his life was tragically taken. Mr Taylor’s family have been left devastated by his death and I just hope this conviction helps just a little as they try to come to terms with what has happened. My thoughts remain with them.”