Eastbourne nightclub killer found guilty.

[Whitterz]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8481473.stm


Many of you will remember back last summer Ben Lund was killed after a violent assault at former Eastbourne nightclub Funktion Rooms. Anyway, the Jury has found him GUILTY of Ben's murder. Nicholas Sitko will be sentenced at Lewes Crown Court tomorrow Friday 29th January.

 

[John Dorian]

As sad as this case is, it is just another example of how your life can be changed with just one decision. Both men had their lives changed that night and all over a woman.

 

[Two Professors]

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has got a lot to answer for

 

[Whitterz]

As sad as this case is, it is just another example of how your life can be changed with just one decision. Both men had their lives changed that night and all over a woman.

one punch can change everything.

 

[Skint Gull]

one punch can change everything.

It absolutely can, although in this case there was far more than one punch. Nobody gets convicted of murder in a drunken scrap for one 'lucky/unlucky' punch.

As you say, two (and all the friends and families of both people) lives ruined. I can see this from both familes perspectives and to be honest am amazed that it wasn't reduced to manslaughter. I think that must tell all that needs to be known about what Sitko did that night...

 

[SirDouglasLoft]

I was sure it'd be classed as manslaughter. Was genuinely shocked when found it was murder. Any of you know any of the lads? Quite a few people I know knew the lad that died, and heard some quite bad stories about him.

 

[sam86]

He's a good looking chap, I'm sure he'll be well looked after in prison

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Murder in Sussex nightclub - North Stand Chat

 

[Barrel of Fun]

North Stand Chat

The story goes (this is from a firsthand witness),
Ben was chatting up Nick girlfriend and got a bit shirty when Nick approached him. Ben was hit by someone else first then by Nick as he went down, he DID NOT him when he was on the floor.
.

You didn't say anything about a headbutt.


The lesson. Stop thumping people. Sadly, a guy lost his life.

 

[patchamalbion]

North Stand Chat



You didn't say anything about a headbutt.


The lesson. Stop thumping people. Sadly, a guy lost his life.

well researched....so that posters 'first hand witness' was either a liar or wasnt first hand at all as its become clear(through over 15 witnesses and CCTV/sitko's own admissions) that there was a headbutt and punches when Lund hit the floor! Sentence will be soon,two lives ruined

 

[Pot noodles for everyone]

one punch can change everything.

So can battering a bloke as he lay on the floor. Only more so.

Eastbourne man accused of murder denies losing control From The Argus)

Sitko, who claimed he had drunk seven pints and two sambuccas, said: "We squared up to each other. I didn't want to get hit first so I head-butted him."
He said a fight broke out between them and they were both exchanging blows. But he denied he had lost control and repeatedly battered Mr Lund while he was lying defenceless on the ground. He said after a couple of punches Mr Lund had fallen to the floor and he decided to leave with his girlfriend, Sarah Sharpe. He believed Mr Lund had been knocked out for a few seconds and he did not realise he was seriously hurt.

He said he found it hard to remember what happened because it was all over so fast.

 

[Durlston]

It was a tragic and very sad end to a situation that we've all probably had experience of.A girl (or boy) you've chatted up or seen someone make a move on your partner in a club.These things should get resolved very quickly with a genuine apology and a handshake.

On this occasion, Nicholas Sitko was way out of order and gets absolutely everything that's coming to him.Maybe, just maybe if he'd caught them shagging in bed i'd empathise a bit but he went much too far that night.

What Ben Lund, his family and friends have been through since that evening must be hell.It's not going to bring Ben back but i hope they get the justice they deserve today.

 

[Johnny Crumplin Football]

I was sure it'd be classed as manslaughter. Was genuinely shocked when found it was murder. Any of you know any of the lads? Quite a few people I know knew the lad that died, and heard some quite bad stories about him.

care to elaborate

 

[sam86]

Given a life sentence. Must serve at least 14 years in prison.

BBC News - Life sentence for Eastbourne club murderer

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I was sure it'd be classed as manslaughter. Was genuinely shocked when found it was murder. Any of you know any of the lads? Quite a few people I know knew the lad that died, and heard some quite bad stories about him.

To be found guilty of murder a court doesn't have to prove intent to kill. The intent to cause grievous bodily harm will suffice, therefore it would be reasonable to assume that someone who threw several punches to the head of another would be intending, no matter how drunk, to cause such harm.

 

[Skint Gull]

To be found guilty of murder a court doesn't have to prove intent to kill. The intent to cause grievous bodily harm will suffice, therefore it would be reasonable to assume that someone who threw several punches to the head of another would be intending, no matter how drunk, to cause such harm.

I was hoping you would clear this up Edna. I don't know either of the lads personally although obviously like a lot of young people in Eastbourne I am friends with friends of both of them so don't take sides but have a close interest in what happened here.

I was always under the impression that to be convicted of murder you do have to have an intent to kill but you say that is not the case. I'm clearly not going to ask for your opinion on this specific case as you will not know the full details but can you answer a general question: If there was a fight between 2 blokes where both parties threw a dozen or so punches and one of the blokes died, is there likely to be a murder charge for that or are we more likely talking punches to a defenceless person to get that charge?

 

[patchamalbion]

VERY harsh sentence!! he might aswell have put a knife to his neck and shouted i will kill you.....there will be an appeal

 

[Barrel of Fun]

VERY harsh sentence!!

Why?

 

[Stevie Boy]

got what the scum deserved

 

[patchamalbion]

Why?

Because he was unlucky to even be tried for Murder and not Manslaughter in the first place. It was not a clear-cut extremely malicious,pre meditated murder it was a fight in a club in which he took it to far and was(sounds horrible) unlucky! If you are out in Brighton tonight and are unlucky enough to be in the wrong place you will see the same or a lot worse than that eve in eastbourne!
Also there have been many murder sentences handed out that prima facie are a lot lot worse than this and have been given 10 years minimum. The judge in this case is a harsh one and clearly want his to set another example in his quest to rid the streets of youths!
oh...and they were expecting life to serve 8