Two men are facing life sentences after battering a ‘peacemaker’ father who was working at a music festival.
Andrew Main, 33, was helping to set up the music festival starring singer Jason Donovan, Boomtown Rats and UB-40 when he was killed outside his hotel.
Scotsman Andrew had tried to break up a fight between guests at the Travelodge in Swansea, South Wales, where he was also staying.
But in the chaos, he was attacked by two fellow guests who continued to batter him even as he lay ‘unconscious and defenceless’ on the floor.
Andrew died in hospital after suffering a brain bleed. Joseph Dix, 26, and Macauley Ruddock, 28, both denied murder and manslaughter, but today a jury found the duo guilty of murdering Mr Main.
Judge Paul Thomas told Dix and Ruddock: ‘There can only be one sentence for murder and that is imprisonment for life but I have to fix the term you will have to serve before you can be considered for release.’
Prosecutor David Elias told the court a row broke out after Mr Main and a friend had been chatting to two women inside the hotel at the bar – a move which reportedly angered Dix and Ruddock.
Mr Elias said Mr Main was a ‘peacemaker’, and tried to push friend Michael Bell, 18, away from the confrontation before walking away.
He said Mr Main was ‘offering no threat to anyone’ as he and his friend had walked away. But after Mr Bell and Mr Main walked away, Dix and Ruddock pursued them and pushed Mr Main to the ground.
Swansea Crown Court heard they then helped him up and shook his hand but the fight redeveloped, resulting in Mr Main suffering a punch to the back of his head.
Mr Elias told the jurors that CCTV footage showed Mr Main’s legs give way ‘immediately’ before he fell to the floor, where both Dix and Ruddock kept punching him.
Another witness described their punches as ‘delivered with force’ – as he could hear a ‘thumping’ noise as the blows connected.
Mr Elias said Dix and Ruddock were ‘laughing and celebrating that joint attack’ as Andrew lay motionless and unconscious on the ground.
Mr Elias said Dix then tried to wake him and put him in the recovery position while a number of people called the police.
Ruddock told officers that ‘they both did it’, with Dix telling police they had shaken hands after the fight and then Mr Main threw a punch at him.
They were arrested and answered ‘no comment’ to all questions asked.
Mr Main, from Falkirk, Scotland, suffered a brain injury days and died in hospital four weeks later after he never managed to recover.
The court heard that Mr Main had a significant brain injury, and a scan showed multiple fractures to the face.
Dix, of Frome, Somerset, and Ruddock, of Camerton, Somerset, denied all charges – but a jury of 11 found them guilty.
Addressing the jury, the judge said: ‘These cases are always very, very sad. No judge underestimates the degree of responsibility and degree of pressure that comes with these cases.
‘It is a tribute to the jury system and especially to you as individuals that you have carried out your responsibilities with such care and dedication. I am grateful to you all.’
The duo will be sentenced on Friday, January 24.
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