Overview
- A Leicester Crown Court jury on Thursday found Nathan Gothard guilty of manslaughter and not guilty of murder, and the judge remanded him for sentencing on May 22.
- Prosecutors said he harassed women inside the Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, was escorted outside, lost a fight with another man, and then struck 66-year-old David Darke near the pub.
- Darke fell, suffered a skull fracture and brain bleed on December 21, 2025, and died in hospital six days later, with a February inquest ruling the punch and fall caused his death.
- CCTV captured parts of the sequence, including Gothard being knocked down earlier and later walking home as others helped the unconscious victim, while he told jurors he punched in self-defence after threats.
- Police said the case shows how a single punch can be lethal and noted the family’s devastation, and relatives said Darke’s organs were donated after his death.