Christopher George guilty of manslaughter

A man from Bridgend has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Carl Chinnock, who died in hospital where he was admitted with a severe head injury on June 24.

Christopher George, 27, of Heol-Y-Berllan, Pyle. appeared for trial at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading not guilty.

The court heard how he punched his 50-year-old victim, whom he didn’t know, after drinking with friends in Porthcawl on the night of June 23, 2021.

At approximately 11.30pm the defendant was walking with his friends but left them to approach Carl Chinnock, who was heard shouting in Salt Lake car park.

His friends described how they saw Chinnock fall backwards and hit his head after Christopher George punched him full force to the face.

The defendant ran from the scene and caught a taxi home, leaving his friends to administer first aid until police and paramedics arrived.

The court heard how while he was being driven home to Pyle, he told the taxi driver that he had given somebody ‘a slap’.

Carl Chinnock was taken to the Princess of Wales hospital but he never recovered. He had suffered a severe bleed to the brain and died four days later.

After a three-week trial, the jury found Christopher George guilty of manslaughter. He will be sentenced on January 7 (2022).

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lewis, said:

“Carl’s family and friends lost their loved one because of Christopher George’s violence. We know from speaking to witnesses that the defendant had been fuelled by alcohol and drugs and he was out looking for trouble that night.
“As this case proves, one punch can kill - anybody who believes that it is okay to exert such violence on another person is gambling with their victim’s life, and of course their own.
“Christopher George’s life changed in an instant that night, but his victim, Carl Chinnock, needlessly lost his life. My sincere thoughts today are with Carl’s family and friends.”