A man has been in prison for a total of 12 years and four months after he was found guilty of killing 65-year-old Stuart Newton in Oswaldtwistle.
Lancashire police were summoned to Worsley Court on 13 February 2020 after receiving reports that Mr Newton had been found with serious head injuries. He was taken to hospital, but was pronounced dead the next day.
Nathan Scott Williams was quickly arrested and later charged with murder. He appeared in court last year on Newton’s murder, but jurors were released after failing to rule.
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Earlier this year, Williams of Worsley Court, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to the unintentional murder of Mr Newton when he appeared before a judge at Preston Crown Court. The court heard that on February 12, 2020, the couple socialized with other people in a nearby property.
The atmosphere was cheerful at first, but changed when Mr. Newton mistakenly commented on Williams’ childcare arrangements. Both men left the property at the time, and witnesses later said they heard Williams shout, “I hit him.”
Seconds later, Mr. Newton was found lying on the ground with severe head injuries. Williams returned to the scene a little later and was challenged for the attack, he said: “I didn’t mean it.”
Watsley Court’s Nathan Scott Williams sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter
Mr Newton was rushed to hospital with multiple fractures of his face and skull, as well as bleeding in his brain. He never recovered from his injuries and died on the morning of February 13.
It was later established that the cause of Mr. Newton’s death was a blunt force head injury. While Mr Newton was in hospital for treatment, the court heard Williams tell friends that he would not accept anyone talking to him as the victim, and also claimed that he was not the aggressor.
Showing his friends the knuckles of his fingers, Williams admitted that he had hit Mr. Newton. Prosecutors say he also used his legs in the attack.
During a police interview, Williams told police that Mr Newton had fallen, but said he had not seen him. He was arrested on the afternoon of February 14 on suspicion of intentional injury.
Stewart’s family paid tribute to him
Two days later, officers found a text message that Williams sent to a friend on Feb. 13, saying he would have to hide for a while because he had either killed Mr. Newton or put him in a coma. Detectives also found blood stains on Mr. Newton’s shoes belonging to Williams.
During an interview, Williams admitted that the two were together at the property in Worsley Court, but said he drank two liters of vodka and does not remember what happened. DCI’s Lee Wilson said: “This senseless violence costs the life of a loving family man above all, and most of all my thoughts remain with Stuart Newton and all those who knew and loved him.
“The level of violence revealed by Williams was completely unacceptable and in no way proportionate to anything Stewart may have said or done. I was pleased that Williams eventually took responsibility for his reckless actions earlier this year when he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. I am glad that Stewart’s family has already achieved some form of justice and seen how the murderer of their loved one received a significant sentence of imprisonment.
“My family and I want to thank our CPS colleagues and prosecutors, Mr. Ford and Miss Appleton, for their work in bringing Williams to justice.
Mr Newton’s family said: “Stuart Newton, a beloved husband, father and grandfather, was taken too early at the age of 65. An engineer by profession, Stewart was an intelligent, hard-working man who led a fulfilling life.
“Apart from his job, he loved to cook, crossword puzzles and watch cricket, snooker and football. He loved spending time with his grandchildren on walks and exploring nature, he loved the regular holidays with his wife, Susan, he was a father to turn to for everything we needed, and he was loved by all who knew him best. -Good.
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“We miss him a lot and he is in our thoughts forever. We have our memories and they will last forever. We hope that you can now rest in peace until we all meet again.
“As a family, we would like to thank all the investigation and prosecution teams, especially Chief Detective Lee Wilson and Andrew Ford QC, for the justice that has been endured today, and their hard work and dedication have been unsurpassed. We would also like to thank our liaison officers who have supported us throughout. Finally, in two years, we can begin to grieve, knowing that justice has been done. ”
Katie Marsden, senior prosecutor at the Northwest CPS, said: “This is a tragic case involving the unnecessary death of a 65-year-old man.
“Nathan Williams attacked Stuart Newton after a brief verbal argument. Unfortunately, Mr. Newton received serious head injuries, from which he never recovered and died at the hospital the next day.
“Our thoughts are many with Mr. Newton’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
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