One punch killer admits Northants manslaughter

Sam Whittet has admitted killing Peter Roberts with a single punch

The victim, Peter Roberts, had been in a coma after he suffered a fractured skull during the incident on December 10, 2016, at Brafield-on-the-Green Working Men’s Club. He died in July 2018 more than two years after the incident.

Killer Sam Whittet, 24, of Knuston Spinney, Irchester, was sentenced to 33 months in jail after admitting GBH during a court hearing in June 2017 but has since been released.

But today (Thursday, November 14) he was brought back before the court following the death of Mr Roberts to face a new manslaughter charge.

Peter Roberts died more than two years after the incident in December 2016

It is unusual for a defendant to face the court twice over the same incident, but the death of Mr Roberts allowed the legal system to re-arrest and indict Whittet on the fresh charge.

He admitted manslaughter at Northampton Crown Court, watched by the families of both men, and will be sentenced in December.

Her Honour Judge Adrienne Lucking heard how Whittet had been an ‘exemplary’ prisoner and had found work as soon as he had been released from jail.